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HYMNS 



A.XO 



SACRED PIECES, 



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WITH 



miscella:n'eous poems. 



" Let eeery thing that hath breath praise the Lord.'' 



■ 5/ 

By KAY PALMER, ^^--r- 






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NEW YORK: 
ANSON D. F. RANDOLPH, 

No. 770 Broadway, Cor. Ninth st. 
I860. 




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Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year ]S0o, 

By RAY PALMER, 

In the District Court of the United States for the Northern 

District of New York. 



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Edwaed 0. Jenkins, 
Printer, 20 North William St. 



TO 

THE TRUE WOMAN 

WHOSE JUST PRAISES I MAY NOT SPEAK, 

BUT IN" WHOSE 

IttTNISTRIES OF AFFECTION AND INTELLIGENT AND EARNEST 

STMl'ATHT WITH ALL MY BEST THOrOHTS AND EFFORTS 

t HAVE EVER FOUND INCITE3IENT AND SITPPORT, 

I VENTURE TO 

INSCRIBE THESE PAGES 

IN • 

GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF A DEBT 
I CANNOT PAY. 

RAY PALMER. 



PEEFACE, 



I have collected the following pieces, because often 
urged to do so by those whom it is a great pleasure to 
gratify. Most of the Hymns are already familiar to the 
Churches, but are scattered in various collections. A 
few of them are now first published. Two or three 
which have been for some time in use I have preferred 
not to insert here. 

It is Avell understood that the Hymn is a peculiar spe- 
cies of poetical composition. Because designed to be 
sung, as a part of worship, it admits of but little orna- 
ment, must be direct and simple in its structure, clear 
in its meaning, and fitted to give easy and natural ex- 
pression to the devout feelings of the heart. The art in- 
volved in the composition, must attract no attention to 
itself. 

The text of the Hymns here collected is that which 
the author wishes to be considered as the true one. 
One or two published at an early date, which he deemed 
defective, he has himself changed slightly ; but several 
corrupt readings have made their way into the Hymn 



VI PREFACE. 

Books. The four translations from the Old Latin Hymns, 
and the throe Hymns — "Lord my weak thought," 
" Jesus these eyes have never seen," and " Thy Father's 
house," were contributed to the Sabbath Hymn Book 
and belong to the proprietors of that collection. They 
are inserted here by permission. With the exception of 
these, the author has no objection to the use of the 
Hymns here brought together by compilers of Hymn 
Books ; but he earnestly protests against the wrong of 
tampering with his text. This he cannot but feel to be 
an immorality which no Christian man should be willing 
to commit. 

The " Sacred Pieces" are designed only for rending. 
Several of the " Miscellaneous Poems" have been pub- 
lished separately ; others appear now for the first time. 
If this little volume shall prove a contribution, however 
slight, of pure thoughts to pure minds, the author will 
be truly thankful. 

R. P. 

Albany, Jan. 5th, 1865. 



LCX)<^ 



CONTENTS. 



HYMNS. 



Page. 

I. My faith looks up to thee ' T 

n. Lord, thou wilt briug the joyful day 9 

m. Jesus, these eyes have never seeu tl 

rv. Eternal Father, thou hast said 13 

V. Oh, sweetly breathe the lyres above 15 

VI. Stealing from the world away 17 

Vn. Lord, my weak thought iu vain would climb 19 

VIU. Away fi-om earth my spirit turns 31 

IX. Lord, thou on earth didst love thine own 23 

X. I know, my God, that thou art near 25 

XT, Before thy throne with tearful eyes 27 

Xn. And is there, Lord, a rest 29 

Xm. Jesus, thou Joy of loving hearts 31 

XIV. Come Holy Ghost, in love .33 

XV. We stand in deep repentance 35 

XVI. Thou. Savior, from thy thi'one on high 37 

XVn. Come, Jesus Redeemer, abide thou with me 39 

XVm. "Wake thee, O Zion, thy mourning is ended 41 

XIX. O Christ ! our King. Creator. Lord 43 



vili CONTENTS. 

Page. 

XX. Thine holy daj's returning 45 

XXI. Jesus, Lamb of God, for me 47 

XXII. When downward to the darksome tomb 49 

XXIII. O bread to pilgrims given 51 

XXIY. Thy Father"? house— thine own bright home 53 

XXV. Come, O thou mighty Savior 55 

XX\^. Fount of everlasting love 57 

XXM:I. The sabbath bell so full and swelling 59 

XXVIII. Wouldst thou eternal life obtain 61 

XXIX. Take me, O ray Father, take me G3 

XXX. Eternal Lord, whose power 05 

XXXI. We praise thee. Savior, for the grace 67 

XXXU. Thou who roU'st the year aronnd 69 

SACRED PIECES. 

L The Lord God is a Sun 71 

n. Dying words of Neander 74 

m. I saw thee 70 

IV. The Thorn 79 

V. Yeanlings ^1 

Yl. Self-Questioning 83 

Xn. God Revealed 86 

^T^n. Gethsemane 88 

IX. Rest, Soldier Rest 90 

X. Via Dolorosa 9-2 

XI. The Maiden 95 

SONNETS. 

Xn. To my Mother 98 

Xm. Mrs. W. L. L mi 

XIV. The Cliristian Soldier's sleep 104 



CONTENTS. ix 

Page. 

XV. The Anoiuting lOfi 

XVI. The Alarm 108 

X^TI. The Expulsiou 110 

XVIII. The Institution 112 

XIX. The Holy Bond 114 

XX. Gethsemane 115 

XXI. The Sacrifice 117 

MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

I. The Spirit's Life 119 

n. The Monks of Chester 141 

m. Clouds 144 

rv. The Song of the Seven 147 

V. The voice of Freedom 151 

VI. Nature 155 

VII. President Lincoln's Proclamation 158 

Vm. Morning Watches 161 

IX. To my Sister, on her wedding day 163 

X. Nelly 166 

XL To My Wife, Jan. 1st, 1864 169 

Xn. The Mountain Maid 172 

XIII. The Birthday 175 

XIV. To Clara ;... 177 

SONNETS. 

XV. The Ride 179 

XVI. Palmer's Indian Maid 182 

XVH. Vaucluse 185 

X^TII. Farewell to Rome 189 

XIX. To Tillie on her birthday 192 

XX. Song 194 



H Y M N S . 



I. 

FAITH. 

My faith looks up to tliee, 
Thou Lamb of Calvary, 

Savior divine: 
IS'ow hear me while I pray, 
Take all my guilt away, 
O let me from this day 

Be wholly thine. 

May thy rich grace impart 
Strength to my fainting heart, 

My zeal inspire ; 
As thou hast died for me, 
O may my love to thee. 
Pure, warm, and changeless be- 

A living fire. 



8 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

While life's dark maze I tread, 
And griefs around me spread. 

Be tliou my guide; 
Bid darkness turn to day, 
Wipe sorrow's tears away, 
I^or let me ever stray 

From thee aside. 

When ends life's transient dream, 
When death's cold sullen stream, 

Shall o'er me roll ; 
Blest Savior, then, in love, 
Fear and distrust remove ; 
0, bear me safe above — 

A ransomed soul. 




II. 

HEAVEN. 

There remaineth a rest. 

JuOED, thou wilt bring the joyful clay! 

Beyond earth's weariness and pains, 
Thou hast a mansion far away, 

Where for thine own a rest remains. 

No sun there climbs the morning sky, 
There never falls the shade of night, 

God and the Lamb, forever nigh, 
O'er all shed everlasting light. 

The bow of mercy spans the throne. 
Emblem of love and goodness there; 

While notes to mortals all unknown, 
Float on the calm celestial air. 



10 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



Around the throne bright legions stand, 
"Redeemed by blood from sin and hell; 

And shining forms, an angel band, 
The mighty chorus join to swell. 

There, Lord, thy way-worn saints shall find 
The bliss for which they longed before ; 

And holiest sympathies shall bind 
Thine own to thee forevermore. 

O Jesus, bring us to that rest, 

Where all the ransomed shall be found, 

In thine eternal fulness blest, 

"While ages roll their cycles round ! 




III. 

OUKTST LOVED UNSEEN. 

1 Peter 1 : 8. 

J ESUS these eyes have never seen 

That radiant form of thine ! 
The veil of sense hangs dark between 

Thy blessed face and mine. 

I see thee not, I hear thee not, 

Yet art thou oft with me ; 
And earth hath ne'er so dear a spot, 

As where I meet with thee. 

Like some bright dream that comes 
unsought. 

When slumbers o'er me roll. 
Thine image ever fills my thought, 

And charms mv ravished soul. 



12 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



Yet though I have not seen, and still 

Must rest in faith alone, 
I love thee, dearest Lord! — and will, 

Unseen, but not Unknown. 

When death these mortal eyes shall seal, 
And still this throbbing heart, 

The rending veil shall thee reveal, 
All glorious as thou art ! 




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IV. 
THE JUBILEE. 

This Hymn was written for the fiftieth Anniversary' 
of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign 
Missions, and sung at the Jubilee Celebration, held in 
the Tremont Temple at Boston, Oct. 3d— 5th, 1860. 

EtER:N'AL Father! tliou hast said 
That Christ all glory shall obtain; 

That He who once, a sufferer, bled, 
Shall o'er the world, a conquerer, reign. 

We wait thy triumph. Savior, King ! 

Long ages have prepared the way; 
IsTow all abroad thy banner fling. 

Set Time's great battle in array. 

Thy hosts are mustered to the field, 
" The cross " — " The cross " —their 
battle-call ; 

The old grim towers of darkness yield, 
And soon shall totter to their fall. 



14 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

Ou mountain tops the watch-fires glow, 
Where scattered wide the watchmen 
stand ; 

Voice echoes voice, and onward flow 
The joyous shouts from land to land. 

Thou hast our humble service blest, 
While fifty years have rolled their round ; 

Weary and worn the fathers rest. 

But in their stead the sons are found. 

Oh ! fill thy church with faith and power ! 

Bid her long night of weeping cease ; 
To groaning nations haste the hour 

Of life and freedom, light and peace. 

Come Spirit, make thy wonders known ! 

Fulfil the Father's high decree ; 
Then earth — the might of hell o'er- 
thrown — 

Shall keep her last, great Jubilee. 



JOY OF CONSECKATION TO CHRIST. 

VJh, sweetly breathe the lyres above, 
When angels touch the quivering string, 

And wake, to chant Immanuers love. 
Such strains as angel lips can sing! 

And sweet, on earth, the choral swell, 
From mortal tongues, of gladsome lays ; 

When pardoned souls their raptures tell, 
And, grateful, hymn Immanuel's praise. 

Jesus, thy name our souls adore; 

We own the bond that makes us thine ; 
And carnal joys, that charmed before. 

For thy dear sake we now resign. 



16 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

Our hearts, by d^diig love subdued, 
Accept thine offered grace to-da}^ ; 

Beneath the cross, with blood bedewed, 
We bow, and give ourselves away. 

In thee we trust, — on thee rely ; 

Though we are feeble, thou art strong ; 
Oh, keep us till our spirits fly 

To join the bright, immortal throng ! 




VI. 

EYENINa WORSHIP. 

In thy light shall we see light. 

StEALIKG from the Avorkl away, 
We are come to seek tliy lace ; - 

Kindly meet us, Lord, we pray, 
Grant us thy reviving grace. 

Yonder stars that gild the sky, 
Shine but with a borrowed light ; 

We, unless thy light be nigh. 
Wander, w^rapt in gloomy night. 

Sun of righteousness ! dispel 

All our darkness, doubts, and fears ; 

May thy light within us dwell. 
Till eternal day appears. 



18 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

Warm our hearts in prayer and praise, 
Lift our every thought above; 

Hear the grateful songs we raise, 
Fill us with thy perfect love. 




TRUST. 

yii. 



How unsearchable are thy judgments. 

IjORD, my weak thought in vain would 
climb 

To search the starry vault profound; 
In vain would wing her flight sublime, 

To find creation's outmost bound. 

But weaker yet that thought must prove 
To search thy great eternal plan — 

Thy sovereign counsels, born of love, 
Long ages ere the world began. 

"When my dim reason would demand 
Why that, or this, thou dost ordain. 

By some vast deep I seem to stand, 
Whose secrets I must ask in vain. 

9 



20 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



When doubts disturb my troubled breast, 
And all is dark as night to me, 

Here, as on solid rock I rest ; 
That so it seemeth good to thee. 

Be this my joy, that evermore 

Thou rulest all things at thy will : 

Thy sovereign wisdom I adore. 

And calmly, sweetly, trust thee still. 




VIII. 
THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

Away from earth my spirit turns, 
Away from every transient good: 
With strong desire my bosom burns, 
To feast on Heaven's diviner food. 

Thou, Savior, art the living bread ; 
Thou wilt my every want supply; 
By thee sustained, and cheered and led, 
I'll press through dangers to the sky. 

What though temptations oft distress, 
And sin assails, and breaks my peace; 
Thou wilt uphold, and save, and bless, 
And bid the storms of passion cease. 



22 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



Then let me take thy gracious hand, 
And walk beside thee onward still; 
Till my glad feet shall safely stand 
Forever firm on Zion's hill. 




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IX. 
THE UNITY OF LOVE. 

That they all may be one. 

IjORD, tliou on earth didst love thine 



own 



Didst love them to the end : 
O still from thy celestial throne, 
Let gifts of love descend. 

The love the Father hears to thee, 

His own Eternal Son, 
Fill all thy saints, till all shall he 

In pure affection one. 

As thou for us didst stoop so low, 
"Warmed hy love's holy flame. 

So let our deeds of kindness flow 
To all who bear thy name. 



24 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



One blessed fellowship in love, 
Thy living Church should stand, 

Till faultless, she at last above. 
Shall shine at thy right hand. 

glorious day when she, the Bride, 
"With her dear Lord appears! 

When robed in beauty at his side. 
She shall fore^et her tears. 




X. 

PRIVATE WOE SHIP. 

i KNOW, my God, that thou art near, 
For o'er my trusting, waiting soul. 

While starts the silent, grateful tear. 
Full tides of sweet emotion roll — 
My blessed God! 

Thou dost to faith thyself reveal ; 

I see thy face serene and mild; 
By Christ's dear cross, while here I kneel, 

I know that I am made a child — 
My blessed God! 

I need not speak, for thou dost see 
All that I feel but cannot tell; 

The longings to be filled with thee 
That stir my heart, thou knowest well — 
My blessed God! 



26 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

In thee, when sorrows rend my breast, 
Love's tenclerest sympathy I find, 

As to a Father's bosom prest, 

As by a Father's arms entwined — 
My blessed God ! 

As if in ocean's darkest deep, 

Thy grace hath buried all my sins. 

And o'er me faithful watch shall keep, 
Till heaven's eternal joy begins — 
My blessed God ! 

That grace, with pure, divine delight, 
My blessed, thankful soul shall own, 

When bursts upon my ravished sight, 
The splendor of thy burning throne — 
My blessed God! 



XL 



THE DAY SPRINa. 

BeFOEE thy throne with tearful eyes, 
My gracious Lord, I humbly fall; 

To thee ray weary spirit flies. 
For thy forgiving love I call. 

I know thy mercy overflows, 

When sinners on thy grace rely; 

Thy tender love no limit knows ; 
Oh save me — justly doomed to die! 

Yes ! thou wilt save ; my soul is free ! 

The gloom of sin is fled away; 
My tongue breaks forth in praise to thee, 

And all my powers thy word obey. 



28 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



Hence, while I wrestle with my foes, — 
The world, the flesh, the hosts of hell — 

Sustain thou me till conflicts close. 
Then endless songs my thanks shall tell. 








XII. 
HEAVEN. 

There remaineth therefore a rest. 

A^N"!) is there, Lord, a rest, 

For weary souls designed, 
"Where not a care shall stir the breast, 

Or sorrow entrance find? 

Is there a blissful home, 

Where kindred minds shall meet. 
And live, and love, nor ever roam 

From that serene retreat? 

Are there bright happy fields. 

Where nought that blooms shall die ; 

Wliere each new scene fresh pleasure yields, 
And healthful breezes sigh ? 



30 IIYMNS AND SA CRED PIECES. 

Are there celestial streams, 

Where living waters glide, 
With murmurs sweet as angel dreams. 

And flowery banks beside? 

Forever blessed they, 

Whose joyful feet shall stand. 
While endless ages waste away, 

Amid that glorious land ! 

My soul would thither tend. 
While toilsome years are given ; 

Then let me, gracious God, ascend 
To sweet repose in heaven! 




xiir. 



ANCIENT HYMN. 



Tran!?lated from Beruard. 



J ESUS, tliou Joj of loving hearts ! 

Thou Fount of Life! Thou Light of men ! 
From the best bliss that earth imparts, 

We turn unfilled to thee again. 

Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood ; 

Thou savest those that on thee call ; 
To them that seek thee, thou art good, 

To them that find thee— All in All I 



We taste thee, thou Living Bread, 

And long to feast upon thee still ; 

We drink of thee, the Fountain Head, 

And thirst our souls from thee to fill. 
3 



32 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

Our restless spirits yearn for thee, 
AYhere'er our changeful lot is cast; 

Glad, when thy gracious smile we see, 
Blest, when our faith can hold thee fast. 

O Jesus, ever with us stay ! 

]\fake all our moments calm and bright ; 
Chase the dark night of sin away — 

Shed o'er the world thy holy light ! 







XIY. 
COME HOLY GHOST. 

Translated from Old Latin Hjanns. 

Come, HoIj Ghost— in love 
Shed on ns from ahove 

Thine own brio'ht ray ! 
Divinely good thou art ; 
Thy sacred gifts impart 
To gladden each sad heart: 

0, come to-day ! 

Come, tend'rest Friend, and best, 
Our most delightful guest, 

With soothing power: 
Rest, which the weary know, 
Shade, 'mid the noontide glow, 
Peace, wdien deep griefs o'erflow — 

Cheer us, this hour ! 



34 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

Come, Light serene, and still 
Our inmost bosoms fill; 

Dwell in each breast : 
We know no dawn but thine ; 
Send forth thy beams divine, 
On our dark souls to shine. 

And make us blest ! 

Exalt our low desires; 
Extinguish passion's fires ; 

Heal every wound : 
Our stubborn spirits bend ; 
Our icy coldness end ; 
Our devious steps attend, 

While heavenward bound. 

Come, all the faithful bless ; 
Let all, who Christ confess, 

His praise employ : 
Give virtue's rich reward; 
Victorious death accord. 
And, with our glorious Lord, 

Eternal joy! 



xy. 

REPENTANCE. 

Translated from a German Hymn. 

W E stand in deep repentance, 

Before thy throne of love : 
God of grace forgive us, 

The stain of guilt remove; 
Behold us while with weeping 

We lift our eyes to thee ; 
And all our sins subduing, 

Our Father, set us free! 

Oh ! shouldst thou from us fallen 
Withhold thy grace to guide, 

Forever we should wander. 
From thee, and peace, aside : 



36 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

But thou to spirits contrite 
Dost light and life impart, 

That man may learn to serre thee 
With thankful, joyous heart. 

Our souls — on thee we cast them, 

Our only refuge thou ! 
Thy cheering words revive us, 

When pressed Avith grief we bow 
Thou bear'st the trusting spirit 

Upon thy loving breast. 
And givest all thy ransomed 

A sweet, unending rest. 





XYI. 
THE TRANQUIL HOUR. 

XHOTJ, Savior, from thy tlirone on high, 
Enrobed in light and girt with power, 

Dost note the thought, the prayer, the sigh 
Of hearts that love the tranquil hour. 

Oft thou thyself didst steal away, 
At eventide, from labor done. 

In some still peaceful shade to pray, 
Till morning watches were begun. 

Thou hast not, dearest Lord, forgot 
Thy wrestlings on Judea's hills ; 

And still thou lov'st the quiet spot 
Where praise the lowly spirit fills. 



38 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

IN'ow to our souls, withdrawn awhile 
From earth's rude noise, thy face reveal ; 

And, as we worship, kindly smile. 
And for thine own our spirits seal. 

To thee we bring each grief and care, 
To thee we fly while tempests lower; 

Thou wilt the weary burdens bear 
Of hearts that love the tranquil hour. 







xvir. 

ALL IN CHRIST. 

I will come to you. 

OOME, Jesus, Kedeemer, abide thou 

with me ; 
Come gladden my spirit that waitetli for 

thee ; 
Thy smile every shadow shall chase from 

my heart, 
And soothe every sorrow, though keen 

be the smart. 

Without thee l)ut weakness, with thee I 

am strong ; 

By day thou shall lead me, by night be 

my song ; 
Though dangers surround me, I still every 

fear. 

Since thou, the Most Mighty, my helper 

art near. 



40 ffYMNS AXD SACRED PIECES. 

^ Thy love, oli how faithful ! so tender, so 
pure ; 

Thy promise, faith's anchor, how stead- 
fast and sure ! 

That love, like sweet sunshine, my cold 
heart can warm, 

That promise make steady mv soul in 
the storm. 

Breathe, hreathe on my spirit, oft ruffled, 

thy peace ; 
From restless, vain wishes, bid thou my 

heart cease; 
In thee all its longings henceforward 

shall end. 
Till glad to thy presence my soul shall 

ascend. 

then, blessed Jesus, who once for me 

died. 
Made clean in the fountain that gushed 
from thy side, 

1 shall see thy full glory, thy face shall 

behold, 
And praise thee forever with raptures 
untold I 



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XYIII. 
THE DAY OF JOY. 

W AKE thee, Zion, tlij mourning is 
ended ; 

God — ^thine own God — hatli regarded thy 
praj^er : 

Wake thee, and hail him, in glory de- 
scended, 

Thy darkness to scatter — thy wastes to 
repair. 

« 

Wake thee, Zion, his spirit of power 
To newness of life is awaking the dead ; 
Array thee in beauty, and greet the glad 

hour 
That brings thee salvation, through Jesus 

who bled. 



42 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



Savior, we gladly Avitli voices resounding 
Loud as the thunder, our chorus would 

swell ; 
Till from rock, wood and mountain its 

echoes rebounding. 
To all the wide world of salvation shall 
tell. 



■MMIW ■■■■■■ »■«■■■■■» 




XIX. 
AN ANCIENT HYMN. 

Translated from Gregory. 

CHRIST ! our King, Creator, Lord ! 
Savior of all who trust thy word ! 
To them who seek thee ever near, 
]Now to our praises bend thine ear. 

In thy dear cross a grace is found — 
It flows from every streaming wound — 
Whose power our inbred sin controls, 
Breaks the firm bond, and frees our souls ! 

Thou didst create the stars of niglit ; 
Yet thou hast veiled in flesh thy light — 
Hast deigned a mortal form to wear, 
A mortal's painful lot to bear. 



44 



HYAINS AND SA CRED PIECES. 



When tliou didst liaiig upon the tree, 
The quaking earth acknowledged thee ; 
When thou didst there yield up thy breath, 
The world grew dark as shades of death. 

^ow in the Father's glory high. 
Great Conqu'ror, never more to die, 
Us by thy mighty power defend, 
And reign through ages without end ! 




XX. 
SABBATH MOENIiXG. 

ThIX'E holy day's returning, 

Our hearts exult to see, 
And with devotion burning. 

Ascend, our God, to thee. 

To-day with purest pleasure. 

Our thoughts from earth withdraw ; 

We search for sacred treasure, 
We learn thy holy law. 

We join to sing thy praises, 
God of the sabbath day ! 

Each voice in gladness raises 
Its loudest, sweetest lay. 



46 JIYNKS AND SA CRED FIECEfi. 

Thy richest mercies sharing, 
fill us with thy love ! 

By grace our souls preparing 
For nobler praise above. 




XXI. 
REPENTANCE AT THE CROSS. 

Jesus, Lamb of God, for me 
Thou, the Lord of life, didst die ; 

Whither — whitlier but to thee. 
Can a trembling sinner fly ? 

Death's dark waters o'er me roll. 

Save, save, my sinking soul ! 

N'ever bowed a martyred head, 

Weighed with equal sorrow down ; 

INever blood so rich was shed, 
]^ever king wore such a crown ! 

To thy cross and sacrifice 

Faith now lifts her tearful eyes. 



48 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

All my soul, by love subdued, 
Melts in deep contrition there; 

.By thy mighty grace renewed, 
New-born hope forbids despair ; 

Lord, thou canst my guilt forgive, 

Thou hast bid me look and live. 

While Avith broken heart I kneel, 
Sinks the inward storm to rest ; 

Life — immortal life — I feel 

Kindled in my throbbing breast ; 

Thine — forever thine — I am. 

Glory to the bleeding Lamb ! 




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XXII. 
THE RESURRECTIOX. 

W HEN downward to the darksome tomb 

I tlionglitful turn mj^ eyes, 
Frail nature trembles at the gloom, 
And anxious fears arise. 

Why shrinks my soul ? — in death's em- 
brace 

Once Jesus captive slept; 
And angels, hovering o'er the place, 

His lowly pillow kept. 

Thus shall they guard my sleeping dust, 

And, as the Savior rose, 
The grave again shall yield her trust. 

And end my deep repose. 



50 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

My Lord, before to glory gone, 

Shall bid me come away ; 
And calm and bright shall break the dawn 

Of heaven's eternal day. 

Then let my faith each fear dispel, 
And gild with light the grave ; 

To him my loftiest praises swell, 
AYho died from death to save. 








XXIII. 
ANCIENT SACRAMENTAL HYMN. 

Translated from Thomas Aqiiinas. 

O BREAD to pilgrims given, 

Food that angels eat, 
O Manna sent from heaven, 

For heaven-born natures meet! 
Give us, for thee long pining. 

To eat till richly filled; 
Till, earth's delights resigning, 

Our every wish is stilled! 

O Water, life-bestowing, 

From out the Savior's heart, 

A fountain purely flowing, 
A fount of love thou art ! 

Oh let us, freely tasting. 
Our burning thirst assuage ! 



52 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

Thy sweetness, never wasting, 
Avails from age to age. 

Jesus, this feast receiving, 

We thee unseen adore ; 
Thy faithful word believing. 

We take — and doubt no more ; 
Give us, thou true and loving. 

On earth to live in thee; 
Then, death the veil removing, 

Thy glorious face to see. 




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XXIY. 
THE HOME ABOVE. 

In my Father's house are many mansions. 

X HY Father's house ! — thine own bright 
home ! 

And thou hast there a place for me ! 
Thou^^h yet an exile here I roam, 

That distant home by faith I see. 

I see its domes resplendent glow, 

Where beams of God's own glory fall ; 

And trees of life immortal grow, 

Whose fruits oer'hang the sapphire wall. 

I know that thou, w^ho on the tree 
Didst deign our mortal guilt to bear. 

Wilt bring thine own to dwell with thee. 
And waitest to receive me there ! 



54 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



Thy love will there array my soul 
In tlihie OAvn robe of spotless hue ; 

And I shall gaze while ages roll, 
On thee, with raptures ever new ! 

O, Avelcome day! when thou my feet 
Shalt bring the shining threshold o'er ; 

A Father's warm embrace to meet, 
And dwell at home forever more! 




XXV. 
INVOCATION. 

Come, O thou mighty Savior, 
We look for thine appearing; 

Descend we pray; 

Thy love display, 
Our waiting spirits cheering. 

Come, clothed with glorious power; 
Let all thy saints adore thee, 

And let thy word. 

The Spirit's sword. 
Subdue thy foes before thee. 

May every heart with gladness. 
Thine oflered grace receiving, 
]Now cease from sin. 
And pure within, 
Have peace, in thee believing. 



56 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

Then, when thou com'st to judgment, 
On flying clouds descending. 
May we rejoice, 
When, at thy voice. 
The solid earth is rendins;. 




^->fe-^ 1>^^^ C^^^^Xi 



XXVI. 

SPIEITUAL REFRESHING. 

loUI^T of everlasting love, 
Eich thy streams of mercy are ; 

Flowing purely from above, 

Beauty marks their course afar. 

Lo ! thy church, athirst and faint. 
Drinks the full, refreshing tide ; 

Thou hast heard her sad complaint, 
Floods of grace are sweeping wide. 

God of mercy, to thy throne, 
ITow our fervent thanks we bring; 

Thine the glory, thine alone. 
Joyous praise to thee we sing. 



58 HYMNS AND SA CRED PIECES. 

While we lift our grateful song, 
Let the spirit still descend; 

Roll the tide of grace along, 

Widening, deepening, to the end. 



,*c» 




I 



! 



i 




XXVII 
THE SABBATH BELL * 

X HE sabbath bell so full and swelling, 

Whose rich vibrations greet the ear, 
To me in solemn note seems telling 

Of faith, of hope, of heaven near; 
My heart with holy joy is bounding. 

From earth my thoughts are on the wing, 
"Whene'er the welcome call is sounding 

That bids me join the choir and sing." 

*I do not know who is the author of the first of the 
above stanzas. It was set to a piece of music by 
Neukomm, and was placed in my hands by Dr, Low- 
ell Mason, with the request that another stanza might 
be added. 



60 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

And while I hear the organ pealing, 

And raptured voices shouting praise, 
While round the holy altar kneeling, 

The tranquil eye of prayer I raise, 
Sweet dews of heaven seem o'er me falling. 

Subduing all my soul to love ; 
I seem to hear some seraph calling 

To bid me join the choir above. 




XXVIII. 
LIFE AT THE CROSS. 

WOULDST thou eternal life obtain? 

ITow to the cross repair ; 
There stand and gaze and weep and pray, 
"Where Jesus breathes his life away; 

Eternal life is there ! 

Go — 'tis the Son of God expires ! 

Approach the shameful tree ; 
See quivering there the mortal dart, 
In the Redeemer's loving heart, 

sinful soul, for thee ! 

Go — there from every streaming wound 

Flows rich atoning blood : 
That blood can cleanse the deepest stain. 
Bid frowning justice smile again. 

And seal thy peace with God. 



62 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



Qo — at that cross thy heart subdued, 

With thankful love shall glow; 
By wondrous, grace thy soul set free, 
Eternal life from Christ to thee 
A vital stream shall flow ! 



ZZZZZJ 



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I 



XXIX. 
SELF-COXSECRATION. 

IaKE me, my Father! take me — 
Take me, save me, through thy Son ; 

That which thou wouldst have me, make 
me, 
Let thy will in me be done. 

Long from thee my footsteps straying. 
Thorny proved the way I trod ; 

Weary come I now, and praying — 
Take me to thy love, my God ! 

Fruitless years with grief recalling. 

Humbly I confess my sin ! 
At thy feet, Father, fVdling, 

To thy household take me in. 



64 HYiMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

Freely now to tliee I proffer. 
This relenting heart of mine; 

Freely, life and soul I offer, 
Gift unworthy love like thine. 

Once the world's Redeemer, dying. 
Bore our sins upon the tree ; 

On that sacrifice relying, 
l^ow I look in hope to thee. 

Father take me ! all forgiving, 
Fold me to thy loving breast; 

Jn thy love forever living, 
I must be forever blest. 



( 



XXX. 

MISSIONARY PARTING HYMN. 

Eternal Lord! whose power 
Can calm the heaving ocean, 

Exalted Thou, 

Yet gracious bow ; 
Accept our w^arm devotion. 

For thee our all we leave, 
NTor drop a tear of sadness; 

As on we glide. 

Be thou our guide. 
And fill our hearts with gladness. 

We go 'mid pagan gloom 

To spread the truth victorious ; 

Thy spirit send. 

Thy word attend. 
And make its triumph glorious. 



66 



HYMXS AND SACRED PIECES. 



And when our toils are done, 
Smooth thou the dying pillow, 

O bring us blest 

To endless rest, 
Safe o'er death's troubled billow! 








XXXI. 
INFANT BAPTISM. 

Tliey brought unto him also infants. 
Lnke 18, 15. 

W E praise tliee Savior, for the grace 
That bids us with our infants come; 

That gives them in thy heart a place, 
And in thy kingdom grants them room. 

"We bring them to thine altar Lord, 
And here the holy seal apply ; 

O. make them clean, — their names record 
In thine own Book of Life on high. 

When storms shall beat, or gathering foes 
Beset the path their feet must tread, 

Dear Shepherd! let thine arms enclose, 
Or o'er thp.m for defence be spread. 
6 



68 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



If thou hast marked them for the tomb, 
Ere morning brightens into day, 

As in thy bosom bear them home, 
And gently wipe our tears away. 

Or if when gathered to thy rest, 

'Tis ours to leave them pilgrims still. 

Guide thou their steps till with us blest. 
They reach thine Everlasting Hill. 




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XXXII. 
THE NEW YEAR. 

IHOU who roll'st the year around, 

Crowned with mercies large and free. 
Rich thy gifts to us abound, 

"Warm our thanks shall rise to thee 
Kindly to our worship bow, 

While our grateful praises swell, 
That, sustained by thee, we now 

Bid the parting year farewell. 

All its numbered days are sped. 

All its busy scenes are o'er. 
All its joys forever fled. 

All its sorrows felt no more : 
Mingled with th' eternal past. 

Its remembrance shall decay, 
Yet to be revived at last. 

At the solemn judgment day. 



70 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



All our follies, Lord, forgive; 

Cleanse each heart and make us thine ; 
Let thy grace within us live, 

As our future suns decline ; 
Then when life's last eve shall come, 

Happy spirits let us fly 
To our everlasting home. 

To our Father's house on hisrh. 







SACRED PIECES. 



THE LORD GOD IS A SUN. 
I. 

1 SEE the rose-bud, wet with night's cokl 
dew, 
Smile through her tears, as if some joy 
new-born 

Stirred at her heart. To some deep in- 
stinct true, 

Her eyelids part, kissed by the waking 
morn. 
Softly her wondrous beauty she reveals ; 
Opens her crimson bosom full and fair, 

To drink thy beams, O Sun ! and, drink- 
ing, feels 
Warmed with fresh life and filled with 
pleasure rare. 



72 HY3mS AND SA CRED PIECES. 

On thee I see her waiting all the day, 
As by thine influence filled with sweet 
content, 
And anxious only not to lose one ray, 

While thy pure glory to her gaze is 
lent. 



II. 

So my own spirit, what time sad and 
chilled 
By earth's dark shadows that do close 
me o'er, 
Looks up through streaming eyes and 
smiles, as filled 
With kindling joy, when thy kind 
beams once more, 
God, my Sun ! do chase the shades 
awa}^ : 
And when full-orbed thou breakest on 
her sight. 
My soul expands herself to catch the day ; 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



< 6 



Athirst, her inmost being drinks thy 
light, 
Thy cheering warmth, all influences 
benign ; 
Till her immortal essence, 'neath thy 
glow, 
Blossoms with graces, throbs with joy 
divine, 
And back to thee her loftiest ardors flow ! 







XX) LO UO OO Go UD OD Do OO Ud Od Do 




II. 

DYING WORDS OF NEANDER. 

" I'm weary — I'm weary — let me go home !" 

I'm weary — weary — let me go! 

For now the pulse of life decliDetlj ; 
My spirit chides its lingering flow, 

For her immortal life she pineth. 

I feel the chill night-shadows fall ; 

The sleep steals on that knows no 
waking ; 
Yet well I hear blest voices call, 

And bright above the day is breaking. 

I^ot now the purple and the gold 
Of trailing clouds at sunset glowing, 

These dim and fading eyes behold; 
But splendors from the Godhead flowing. 



HYMNS AXD SACRED PIECES. 75 

'Tis not the crimson orient beam, 

O'er mountain tops in beauty glancing; 

Light from the throne ! a flooding stream ! 
'Tis the eternal Sun advancing ! 



As oft, when waked the summer morn. 
Sweet breath of flowers the breezes 
bore me ; 

In this serener, fairer dawn, 

Perfumes from Paradise float o'er me. 

As when by sultry heats oppressed, 
I've sought still shades cool waters 
keeping. 
So long I for that holier rest. 
Where heaven's own living streams are 
sweeping. 



The joy of life hath been to stand 
With spirits noble, true, confiding : 

Oh, joy unthought — to reach the band 
Of spotless souls with God abiding ! 



76 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

Ye loved of earth ! this fond farewell 
That now divides us, cannot sever : 

Swift flying 3'ears their round shall tell, 
And our glad souls be one forever. 

On the far off celestial hills, 

I see the tranquil sunshine lying ; 

And God himself my spirit fills 

With perfect peace — and this is djdng 1 

Methinks I hear the rustling wings 
Of unseen messengers descending, 

And notes from softly trembling strings. 
With myriad voices sweetly blending. 

thou, my Lord adored ! this soul 
Oft — oft its warm desires hath told thee : 

Now wearily the moments roll. 

Until these waiting eyes behold thee. 

Ah — stay ni}^ spirit here no more. 

That for her home so fondl}^ yearncth : 

There, joy's bright cup is brimming o'er : 
There, love's pure flame forever burneth ! 









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III. 

I SAW THEE. 

When thou wast under the fig-tree I saw thee. 

1 SAW thee when, as twilight fell, 
And evening lit her fairest star. 

Thy footsteps sought yon quiet dell. 
The world's confusion left afer. 

I saw thee when thou stood'st alone. 
Where drooping branches thick o'er 
hung — 

Thy still retreat to all unknown — 
Hid in deep shadows darkly flung. 

I saw thee when, as died each sound 
Of bleating flock, or woodland bird. 

Kneeling, as if on holy ground, 

Thy voice the listening silence heard. 



78 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

I saw tliy calm uplifted ejes. 

And marked the heaving of thy breast. 
When rose to heaven thy heart-felt sighs, 

For purer life, for perfect rest. 

I saw the light that o'er thy face 
Stole with a soft suffusing glow, 

As if, within, celestial grace 
Breathed the same bliss that angels know. 

I saw — what thou didst not — above 
Thy lowly head an open heaven ; 

And tokens of thy Father's love 

With smiles to thy rapt spirit given. 

I saw thee from that sacred spot 
With firm and peaceful soul depart; 

I, Jesus, saw thee — doubt it not — 
And read the secrets of thy heart ! 








:q_> 



IV. 

THE THORN. 

Each pang I feel is known to thee, 
Dear Lord ! for thou hast sent the thorn 

That pierceth me ; 
Hast fixed it festering in this breast, 
That with new anguish wakes each morn. 

And finds no rest. 

Though oft with burning tears, I've prayed 
That thou wouldst take this grief away, 

Thou hast delayed; 
Yet thou hast pledged thy word to keep. 
To succor in the sorrowing day 

Thine own who weep. 

Why tarriest thou? Long must I plead, 
With hope deferred, that thou wilt send 
The help I need? 



80 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

Hast thou thy words of love forgot, 
That, when o'erwhelmed, I lowly bend, 
Thou answerest not? 

Be still, my soul, and meekly bear 
Thy pain, nor yield one doubt a place, 

Lest dark despair 
Prevail, thy steadfast trust to shake ; 
Though in thick shades he hides his face. 

The dawn shall break ! 

Ah! now, at last, he speaks; — A thrill 
Sweeps through my soul, and tides of love 

My being fill : — 
^' Canst thou not bear the cross with me ? 
I may not yet the thorn remove 

That woundeth thee; — 

But thou shalt lean upon my breast, 
My strength shall make thy weakness 

strong ; 
When most oppressed, 
Then most my grace shalt thou partake : 
And from thy burdened heart a song 

Of joy shall break!" 



Y. 

YEARNINGS. 

tbat I bad wings like a dove. 

-T IXED in some deep and lonely cell, 
And doomed a weary chain to wear, 

The prisoner's bosom oft must swell 
With longing to be free as air. 

Thus by dull sense shut in, confined 
To this low earth, where shadows lie, 

That chill its fires, its vision blind. 
My prisoner sjDirit pines to fly. 

Far, far above the gloom of night, 
It sees the purely brilliant sheen 

Of stars that ever roll in light, 
And wishes for a world serene : 



82 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

A world unstained by sin and tears, 
Unreached by pangs that wring ns here, 

Where in the calm, sweet flow of years, 
There's nought to wish, and nought to 
fear. 

Such a fair world there is on high. 
For yearning souls that restless roam ; 

O, for thy wings, thou dove, to fly 

And seek in that bright land a home ! 




yi. 

SELF-QUESTIONma. 

One of you shall betray me. 

O TELL me, Jesus, to my heart, — 
My troubled heart — the secret tell; 
May I from thee and thine depart. 
As Judas, when he falsely fell? 
Is it not love — this kindling flame 
That warms my breast oft as thy name 

Falls on my willing ear? 
Is it not faith that oft hath brought 
My trembling soul the peace it sought, 
And stilled each restless fear? 

This quiet joy that hidden flows 

Deep in my soul ; and makes me glad, 

Though many a rude wind round me blows, 
And many a sorrow makes me sad — 



84 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

Can this calm joy that ever lives 

Be aught but that thy presence gives, 

To faithful souls revealed? 
The presence and the loving smile 
That gladdens all thine own — the while 

From unbelief concealed ? 

The tears that oft these eyes have wept, 

When I before thy feet have knelt, 
Or watch about thy cross have kept. 

And all thy pangs have keenly felt — 
Came they not from that holy grief 
That brings the broken heart relief. 

And softens it to love ? 
"Was not the hope that wakened there, 
Hope that shall triumph o'er despair 

And bear the soul above ? 

Speak, thou that knowest well — decide; 

If I am thine, oh, clasp this hand. 
And wdien my feet would stray, or slide. 

Then firmly hold and bid me stand. 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 85 

Go forth fi'om tliee? Give me to bear 
Thy bitter cross, thy thorns to wear; 

But let me not depart ! 
1^0, Lord ! afresh to thee I bring, 
A free, a cheerful oiFering, 

This trusting, grateful heart. 




YII. 
GOD KEYEALED. 

All my springs arc in thee. 

-LilGHT — lio'lit upon ni}^ soul ! 
Downward it streams from its celestial 

fountains ; 
About me glows like sunrise on the moun- 
tains ; 
It bringeth gladsome cheer, 
Farewell my night of fear ! 



Life — life I feel within! 
Fresh from its rich, immortal source de- 
scending. 
It lends me power divine, forever ending 

The weakness felt before ; 

I now can faint no more. 



HY3INS AND SACRED PIECES. 87 

Love — love my bosom fills ! 
From Him whose name is Love, it comes, 

inspiring 
Deep, warm, responsive love, my spirit 
firing 
With holy rapturous glow. 
Such as pure seraphs know. 

Joy — joy within my heart! 
From its bright home above divinely 

flowing. 
Like perfume from some orient garden 
blowing. 
Or, like the fragrant air 
"Wafted o'er meadows fair. 

God — God the great and good. 
That from the sense his glory all con- 
cealing, 
To lowly faith delighteth in revealing 

Himself, the Highest, Best — 

All being's bliss and rest ! 



yiii. 

GETHSEMANE. 

Where climbs thy steep, fair Olivet, 
There is a spot most dear to me : 

The spot with tears of sorrow wet, 
When Jesus knelt in agony. 

I love in thought to linger there, 
To tread the hallowed ground alone. 

Where, on the silent midnight air, 
Eose heavenward, Lord, thy plaintive 
moan. 

I fondly seek the olive shade 

That veiled thee when thy soul was wrung; 
When angels came to bring thee aid. 

That oft to thee their harps had strung ! 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 89 

There, on the sacrecl turf, I kneel, 
And breathe my heart's deep love to thee, 

While tender memories o'er me steal, 
Of all thou did'st endure for me. 

mystery of anguish, when 

The sinless felt sin's heavy woe ! 

Hell madly dreamed of triumph then, 
While thy dear head was bending low. 

Vain dream ! 'Eo grief shall evermore 
Stain, as with bloody sweat, thy brow ; 

Robed in all glory — thine before — 
The seraphim, surround thee now. 

Yet, Lord, from off the burning throne. 
Above yon stars that softly gleam. 

Thou com'st to meet me here alone, 
By Kedron's old familiar stream. 






IX. 
BEST WARRIOR REST! 

On depositing the body of Brig. Gen. James C. Rice 
in the tomb. 

Rest, Solclier— rest!— thy weary task 
is done ; 
Thy God — thy country — thon hast 
served them well : 
Thine is true glory — glory bravely won ; 
On lips of men unborn thy name shall 
dwell. 

Rest, Patriot — Christian ! Thou hast early 
died, 
But da^^s are measured best by noble 
deeds : 
Brief though thy course, thy name thou 
hast allied 
To those of whom the World, admiring- 
reads. 



HYiMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 91 

Rest, manly form ! Eternal love shall keep 
Thy still repose, till breaks the final 
dawn ; 
Our Martyr stays not here — He kneio no 
sleep ! 
On death's dark shadow burst a cloud- 
less morn ! 

Live ! live on fame's bright scroll, heroic 
friend ! 
Thy memory, now, we to her record give, 
To earth, thy dust: our thoughts to heaven 
ascend. 
Where, with the immortals, thou dost 
ever live ! 



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X. 
VIA DOLOROSA. 

i. SEE mj Lord, the pure, the meek, the 
lowly, 
Along the mournful way in sadness tread ; 
The thorns are on his brow, and He — the 
Holy, 
Bearing his cross, to Calvary is led ! 

Silent He moveth on, all uncomplaining. 
Though wearily his grief and burden 
press ; 
And foes — nor shame, nor pity now re- 
straining — 
With scoff and jeering mock his deep 
distress. 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 93 

'Tis hell's dark hour ; yet calm himself 

resigning, 
Even as a lamb that goeth to be slain ; 
The wine-press lone he treacleth unrepining, 
And falling blood-drops all his raiment 

stain. 

In mortal weakness 'neath his burden 
sinking, 

The Son of God accepts a mortal's aid ! 
Then passes on to Golgotha unshrinking, 

Where love's divinest sacrifice is made. 

Dear Lord ! what though my path be set 
with sorrow. 
And oft beneath some heavy cross I 
groan ? 
My soul, weighed, down, shall strength and 
courage borrow. 
At thoughts of sharper griefs which thou 
hast known. 



94 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



And I, in tears, will yet look up with 
gladness, 
And hope when troubles most my hope 
would drown ; 
The mournful way which thou didst tread 
with sadness, 
"Was but thy way to glory and thy Crown 1 




XI. 
THE MAIDEN. 



'TWAS 



on a summer evenmg — wlien 

the sun was set in flame, 
And the golden hues were fading, and 

the twilight shadows came, 
That I walked with one I loved, — one 

who felt with me the power 
Which o'er the heart comes tenderly in 

nature's peaceful hour. 



By a river-side we walked — 'twas a softly 
flowing stream; 

Its murmur like svveet music stealing- o'er 
the sleeper's dream : 

Green and mossy were the banks, cluster- 
ing shrubs and arching trees 

Here and there beside the waters, whis- 
pered ever to the breeze. 



96 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

If there are aerial spirits, as 'tis often 

said in song, 
Which love 'mid scenes of beauty to keep 

revel all night long, 
Surely there they oft had gathered, on 

the moonlit grassy bed. 
And danced their mystic dance till the 

morn was blushing red. 

As arm in arm we wandered with a 
quiet step and slow, 

And communed in such discourse as 
kindred spirits only know. 

And, in thouo'ht, from earthlv beautv 
mounted up to worlds of light 

Where beauty is immortal — ever fadeless 
— ever bright ; 

There came a plaintive voice thro' the 

stillness on the ear; 
Hark! — how soft and sweet its murmur, 

it is melody to hear ! 
We stay our steps and listen — clear on 

the tranquil air. 
Breaks from a leaf}^ covert the holy words 

of prayer I 



HrSlNS AXD SACRED PIECES. 97 

*Twas a gentle maiden's voice — from the 

busy world away, 
To this lovely lone retreat, at the hour 

of dying day. 
She hath stolen out unseen, and on faith's 

bright wing she soars, 
Breathing out her soul in worship to the 

God whom she adores. 

We would have bowed in silence, for the 

place was holy ground ; 
God's awe was on the spirit, and 'twas 

heaven all around! 
But profane it seemed to hear as that 

guileless heart aspired. 
And we turned our footsteps silently, and 

from the spot retired. 

Perhaps she came there nightly by the 

kindling stars of even. 
To kneel upon that fragrant turf and pray 

and think of heaven ; 
She was, doubt not, a sweet sister, bore 

a faithful daughter's part. 
Was in all things like an angel — 'Blessed 

are the pure in heart.' 






SONNETS. 

XII. 

TO MY :mother. 

I. 

JxlY angel mother! Long — long years 
have gone, 
Since thou, yet young and fair, passed 

from my sight. 
Translated to the world where all is light. 
From earth's dim shadows evermore 

withdrawn ; 
Oh, hright on thy awaking broke the morn 
Of life immortal ; for thy soul even here 
Angelic seemed, lent to this mortal 
sphere. 
And waiting till the eternal day should 
dawn: 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 99 

Yet tliou clid'st not forsake me when 

they bore 
Thee sadly forth, and fresh turf o'er 
thee laid ; 
E'er since, I see thy gentle face each day, 
And in the silent night, and still there 
play 
In those soft eyes the self-same smiles 

that made 
Thy presence a deep joy, in days of yore. 

II. 

Dark mystery of death ! I may not break 
The grave's dread silence, but, mother 

dear, 
Is it a dream that thou art ever near, 
And smilest on me when I sleep or wake? 
Is it not granted thee e'en yet to take, 
With that same overflowing tenderness 
That gave me at thy knee the fond 
caress, 
Kind note of all my steps ? Let me not 
wake. 



100 BYMXS AND SACRED PIECES. 

If dream it be, that thou my angel art ; 
That 'tis thy presence with me, though 
unseen. 
Which sometimes makes the tender tear 
to start. 
And sometimes fills my soul with peace 
serene ; 
As when in childhood folded to thy breast. 
Thy calm sweet look still charms my 
griefs to rest. 



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XIII. 

MRS. W. L. L. 

I. 

}5HE hath but passed to heaven. As if 
from sleep, 
Sleep soft and peaceful, she awoke to 

find 
Earth with its pangs and tears all left 

behind ; 
Eose her freed spirit np the airy steep ; 
On steady wing, beyond where pale stars 
keep 
Their watch o'er mortal griefs, she up- 
ward sped, 
^ot lonely, but by sister spirits led. 
To that dear home where eyes do never 
weep : 



102 IIY3INS AND SA CRED FJFCL'S. 

Strange rapture thrilled her there ; and 

straight her note 
With sweet accord swelled the eternal 

h^'mn 
Of souls redeemed, led by the seraphim; 
Whose echoes through the circling ages 

float : 
E^ow living, conscious, pure as angels 

bright, 
With God she dwells in everlasting light. 

II. 

Who would recall her to tread o'er again 
The mortal path — from heaven's pure 

bliss recall ? 
The wish w^ere weakness, though fall 
oft must fall 
Thick, blinding tears from eyes that once 

were fain 
To catch her genial smile, ne'er sough' 
in vain ; 
Though many an hour fond hearts be 
sad and lone. 



HFimS AND SACRED PIECES. 103 

And miss, and yearn once more to drink, 

the tone 
That lingers in the ear like some lost strain : 
IS'o — ye that loved her, now to heaven 

resign, 
Nor wish her from that nobler life with- 
drawn ; 
The night of grief shall pass ; and with 

the morn 
Shall come sweet memories ; and a face 

divine 
With all your worthiest thoughts shall 

seem to blend, 
And a fair form your wandering steps 

attend. 




XIY. 
THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER'S SLEEP. 

Sergeant John Hanson Thompson. 

fe MILE softly, skies ! upon the grassy 
grave ; 
Angels ! about it holy vigils keep ; 
Where calm reposes, in his dreamless 
sleep, 
The young and manly, generous and 

brave : 
Deck it, ye flowers that tears of love shall 
lave; 
Let faithful hearts full oft beat quicker 

there ; 
A glory not of earth the spot shall wear ; 
For He, the Lord of Life, that died to save, 
Of the still sleeper saith — " He is not dead I 
Whoso believeth, he shall never die!'' 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 105 

The mortal resteth here ; the immortal 

— sped, 
Swifter than wings or fleetest thought 
can fly, 
Above yon burning stars — exults to climb 
Of Heaven's own life the eternal heights 
sublime ! 



^^ 




¥^^m 



XV. 
THE ANOINTINa. 

feHE came — the sinful — while he brake 

the bread, 
Her broken heart now healed, and brim- 

mins: o'er 
"With holy burning love ; she came to pour 
Sweet, precious odors on that reverend 

head; 
And — as by deep prophetic impulse led — 
That sacred body, soon uplifted high 
'Mid scorn and shame in agony to die. 
Betimes to anoint for its sepulchral bed. 
Ungrudgingly she did the loving deed; 
For to that glowing • heart no offering 

seemed. 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 107 

Too rich for him — no cost too dear she 
deemed, 

If he with one kind look the gift might 

heed: 
The selfish chid, pronounced her act a 

crime ; 
He praised — and bade it live to latest time ! 







XVI. 
THE ALARM. 

XIE kept the Passover; it was his last; 
For now drew near the great predestined 

day, 
AYhen of man's mighty guilt himself 

should pay 
With dying groans and blood the ransom 

vast: 
The cross was in his eye, the hours flew fast ; 
Yet calm he sat and looked serenely round 
On all the twelve ; while they with awe 

profound, 
And loving gaze on him, revolved the 

past — 
The future from them hid : then touched 

He said — 
'' Of you one shall betray me unto death !" 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



109 



At that dire word beteay — they all did 

start, 
As if a thunder peal had stilled each breath. 
Or sudden mortal pang shot through each 

heart : 
Lord ! Is it I ? each cried with horrid dread. 








XVII. 
THE EXPULSION. 

IHE loved disciple lay upon his breast, 
Drinking sweet influence from that voice 

divine ; 
He asked, the Master gave at once the sign 
That marked the traitor, jiistifled the rest. 
Then, with convicting glance, while yet 

dismav 
Sat on the faces of the innocent 
He said — and Judas knew the deep 

intent — 
'• What thou hast purposed do without 

delay." 
Heart-smitten, out into the murky night 
Went he, foul demons ruling all his soul, 



HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 



Ill 



Aud floods of hate that surged without 

control, 
Then Jesus cried — his eye beamed 

heavenly light — 
]N"ow shall the Son of Man, — betrayed — 

denied — 
Before all men by God be glorified ! 




W^'^ 4^ ^ 4 




XVIII. 
THE INSTITUTION. 

xIe took the "bread and blessed it. Then 

He brake 
And gave to each, and said — words 

sublime ! — 
This is my body broken ! through all time, 
In memory of my death this emblem take. 
Kext for the cup gave thanks. For his 

dear sake, 
He bade them taste the wine. Drink, 'tis 

my blood. 
The seal and witness of all grace in God, 
Till when the judgment trump the dead 

shall wake. 
sacred mystery ! Communion sweet, 
Of holy loving souls ! — in which they flow 



JIFMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 113 

All into one blest brotherhood, and meet 
Jneffably their Lord; and joy to know 
That at this simple board they feast with 

Him 
Whose face unveiled fires the rapt seraphim ! 




XIX. 
THE HOLY BOND. 

A LITTLE while— He said — and hence 

I go; 
And ye shall seek me, but ye shall not find ; 
Ye may not follow now ; but left behind, 
My witnesses, the world by you shall know 
The truth, that truth strike root and grow ; 
A holy kingdom rise and wide extend ; 
Till e'en earth's proudest shall submissive 

bend. 
And unto me all tribes and nations flow ! 
Behold ! a new command to you I give ; 
Love one another ; all who will be mine, 
Let love in one blest fellowship combine. 
That each for all, and all for each may live. 
So, marked of men, shall ye 'mid earth's 

dim night, 
Divinely glow with pure celestial light ! 



^ fe 






XX. 
GETHSEMANE. 

fePREAD thick above, ye clouds, your 

dusky veil. 
Hide from yon stars the Savior's bitter woe ; 
Breathe, ye night winds, in murmurs sad 

and low, 
Or lift, in fitful gusts, your mournfal wail : 
Listen, thou* Olivet! and Kedron's vale 
Catch the sad accents that are borne to 

thee 
From yonder shade — thine own Geth- 

semane — 
As when one pleadeth, and doth not prevail. 
See, to the earth the holy sufferer sinks ; 



116 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

Weighs on his heart an anguish all 

unknown ; 
Bursts from his lips the thrice repeated 

prayer, 
Yet firm his will the utmost pang to hear ; 
Till for him fainting while the cup he 

drinks, 
Angels hring succors from the eternal 

throne ! 



J»l»gfeag«WKK»1gWgHgg 




J85^,^^ 



iiiiiiiffliiiiiiiia 



^^^i^ 



XXI. 
THE SACRIFICE 

Wo:N'DER of wonders! On the cross 
He dies ! 

Man of the as^es — David's mighty Son — 

The Eternal Word, who spake and it was 
done, 

What time, of old, he formed the earth 
and skies. 

Abashed be all the wisdom of tbe wise ! 

Let the wide earth through all her king- 
doms know 

The promised Lamb of God, whose blood 

should flow, 
For human guilt the grand, sole sacrifice : 
No more need altar smoke, nor victim 

bleed ; 

'Tis finished ! — the great mystery of love. 



118 HYMNS AND SACRED PIECES. 

Ye sin-condemned, by this blood 'tis 

decreed 
Ye stand absolved; behold the curse 

remove ! 
Christ ! thy deadly wounds, thy mortal 

strife 
Crush death and hell, and give immortal 

life ! 




^ ^ ^ ^^ ^ ^^ §^ Sf^ 







MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 



THE SPIRIT'S LIFE. 

The following poem was delivered before the Literary 
Fraternity, Waterville College, and ilie Porter Rhetor- 
ical Society, Theological Seminary, Andovcr, at their 
Anniversaries, August nnd September, 1837. 

When from her course, o'er stormy 

billows driven, 
Some gallant ship on fatal rocks is riven. 
The hapless sailor, cast upon the shore, 
To see his home and native land no more, 
Deems all around him desolate ; and vain 
The hope that he shall e'er be glad again : 
But when revolving years prolong his stay. 
They steal, by slow degrees, his gloom 

away ; 



120 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

Till used — the heart is o'er the world 

the same — - 
To call it Home, — he loves it for the name. 



So is it with us all : since when exiled 

From the dear spot where early Eden 

smiled, 
Where perfect man 'mid perfect beauty trod. 

And innocent, like angels, walked with 

God, 
Strano^ers and friendless on the lone world 

thrown, 
We sigh for blooming seats no more our 

own : 
But doomed returnless, wisdom bids us 

prove 
What ills we may but sufier, what remove : 
By hard experience taught the priceless 

skill 
From sorrow joy to draw, and good from ill, 
Yet a few flowers we teach around to grow, 
And though we reach not bliss, escape 

from woe. 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 121 

We live a twofold life; The grosser 

sense, 
Allied to earth, must draw its life from 

thence ; 
A life oft harrassed by unfilled desire, 
Whose jo^'s are transient, and whose 

hopes expire : 
]^ot by the noble mind too highly prized, 
^or yet, by God appointed, all despised. 

The Spirit of an essence half divine, 
Hath its own proper life ; nor may resign 
The high prerogative, that bids transcend 
Dull sense, and make the invisible its end, 
Its home the universe. It lives but where 
It finds the Perfect, and the True, and 
Fair. 

l^ot they who eager throng the crowded 
mart 

Where fortune waits her favors to impart; 
l!Tor they who sit where pleasure wreaths 
her bower; 

Nor they who climb the giddy heights 
of power ; 



122 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

Nor the J who curious rove from clime to 

clime; 
'Eov tliey whom learning tempts to plun- 
der time ; 
Attain what may the inward thirst supply, 
And gild life's moments as they hasten h\ : 
'Tis theirs whose youth, whose- manhood, 

and whose age 
The Beautiful, the True, the Good, 
engage. 

Say what is Beauty, and direct us where. 
What hearts may feel, but never words 

declare. 
'Tis nature's mystery; — a silent spell. 
That chains the soul like music's gifted 

shell : 
'Tis the pleased spirit's harmony ; the thrill 
Of chords by unseen fingers touched with 

skill r 

Of power to calm, when stormy passions 

move. 
And wake the soul to tenderness and love. 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 123 

Where is it, askest thou ? expand thy 

soul 
To grasp of finite things the mighty whole : 
Scan with attentive eye each part in turn ; 
The stars that glitter, and the suns that 

burn, 
Far as the assisted orb can stretch its view : 
The broad expanse, where God's own 

finger drew 
The path of moving worlds, through which 

they urge 
Eternally their flight, nor once diverge: 
The azure air — where fleecy clouds repose, 
And float majestic as it ebbs and flows; 
Or kindle in the sun's departing glow ; 
Or, darkly froAvning, arch the mystic bow: 
The sea — that moaning heaves its foam- 
ing crest, 
Or sleeps unruffled, when the tempests 

rest : 
The earth — that once accursed when siu 

began. 

Forgetful of the wrong still blooms for man : 
Morn — when it purples all the eastern hill : 



124 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

Eve — when the stars are mirrored in the 

rill : 
All nature's noble face is bright and fair, 
The smile of beauty plays for ever there. 

But nicer shades the searching eye may 

trace ; 
Minuter study shows diviner grace: 
Each single object, perfect in each part, 
Each scene complete, with wonder fills 

the heart. 

Exchange the busy city, or the town, 
Eor the lone wilderness. There sit thee 

down 
Where waves the pine amid the clear 

blue skv, 
And greets the breathing zephyr with a 

sigh : 
The Gothic fir, that lifts its head in pride, 
Kor bows, though tempests sweep the 

forest wide, 
Stands in still majesty. Encircling round, 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 1^5 

A tliousancl names in wild disorder found, 

Blend all their thousand shades of varied 

green, 
And open far retreating glades between. 
Like a fair child at play, the mountain 

stream 

Leaps babbling by, and sparkles in the 

beam 
That falls where parted boughs a path 

disclose : 
Athwart the old moss oak its long arms 

throws. 
As age bends over youth ; while o'er the 

brink. 

The rose and lily stoop, as if to drink. 

The timid fawn is there to slake his thirst : 

The thrasher and the blue jay safe have 
nursed 

Their unfledged young, and pour their 
clear wild notes. 

That one may deem an angel chorus floats: 

And flowers by God's own care unnum- 
bered spring. 

And 'mid the maze of beauty fragrance 
fling. 



126 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

Turn next Avliere man essays, with 

patient toil, 

To disembowel earth ; and mark the spoil 

Which forth he drags, his labor to repay. 

See where the sunbeams on the crystal 

P^ay, 
Or fall, refracted b}^ the brilliant gem. 
Destined to grace a monarch's diadem; 
I^ote the bright masses of the precious ore, 
Henceforth to swell the rich man's cof- 
fered store: 
On all the products of the teeming mine. 
Beauty is writ in characters divine. 

Or, leaving nature, fix thy roving 

thouo^ht 
On the fair works that human skill hath 

wrought. 
Eternal Rome's proud Vatican go tread ; 
Hich mausoleum of the gifted dead : 
Where sculpture bids the marble bosom 

heave, 
The lip to utter, and the eye to grieve ; 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 127 

Give to the wretch Laocoon a .tear 



Or fi^aze in silence on the Belvidere 



Pause where, with pencil dipped in magic 
dye, 

Painting transcends all hues of earth and 

sky ; 
And w^hile thy rapt soul feels the mighty 

spell 

Of gorgeous Titian, or bold Eaphael, 
That fixed in wonder, thou couldst ever 

wait, 
Learn what the beauty genius can create. 

And there is beauty on the classic page ; 
Immortal product of each perished age : 
Where graphic Homer, master of the lyre, 
Or melts to pity, or inflames to ire : 
Where Plato, half divine, intensely soars, 
And wide unfathomed realms of thought 

explores : 
Where breathes, chaste Yirgil, thy sweet 

tuneful lay ; 
Or the thronged forum owns rich Tully's 

sway ; 



128 MISCELLANEO US PIECES. 

Or where Petrarca sighs m later time ; 

Or Dante's numbers roll — dark — wild — 

sublime : 
Or our own Milton, with adventurous flight, 
Sweeps heaven and hell, and ' chaos and 

old night:' 
"Where gentle Addison provokes a smile, 
And to fair virtue wins the heart the while ; 
Or splendid Burke pours his exhaustless 

stream ; 

Or Johnson kindles on the moral theme. 

But close the eye of sense, and thou 

shalt find 
Yet fairer forms of beauty in the mind. 
The inward eye hath vision more serene ; 
It sees a world no eye of sense hath seen ; 
Ideal all — transcendent — ever bright : 
Imagination thither bends her flight; 
Bids the charmed soul 'mid radiant forms 

to range, 
And hues that fade not, yet for ever change ; 

there v 

o^leams. 



And there where soft eternal sunlight 



^5 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 129 

Find calm repose, and dream bright glori- 
ous dreams ! 

And what is Truth ? Thou Source of 
truth benign, 
Light in whose light we see, to say is thine ! 
'Tis the great sum of all thy will hath 

wrought : 
The antitype of thine eternal thought. 

Go, grave inquirer, search the plan 

profound. 
Of God ordained, or ever years rolled round ! 
Which firmly fixed what nature's laws we 

call. 
That bid the planet roll, the pebble fall : 
That atoms join, by close attraction held, 
Or sever, by repulsive force impelled ; 
That send the Spring's sweet blush, the 

Summer's bloom, 
The Autumn's riches, and the Winter's 

gloom; 
That all the changes of all things control, 
And bind in wondrous harmony the whole. 



130 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

Enter man's inmost soul; the search 

pursue : 
A voice, than Delphic oracle more true, 
Shall utter its response, nor once deceive 
What ear may listen, or what heart believe ; 
Shall whisper truth hy intuition taught, 
Or drawn by reason from the wells of 

thought : 
Shall bid thee to the Infinite ascend, 
To God, Eternity, thy being's end; 
Reveal thee subject to the changeless 

throne. 
And speak unending ages all thine own. 

The Book of God unfold. There radiant 

shine, 
By his own Spirit written, truths divine. 
Lo ! where thick clouds and flame his way 

attend. 
On shuddering Sinai's top the Lord 

descend ! 
"While the shrill trump afi*rights the 

startled ear. 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 131 

And thrills the heart, rebellious Israel hear 
Man's sum of duty down to latest time, 
By God's own awful voice pronounced 

sublime. 
The harp of Prophecy, in lofty lays. 
Pours the rich notes of truth in after days : 
Till He whose name is Truth — bright 

morning Star — 
Bursts on the world and spreads his beams 

afar ! 

O sacred Truth ! Say if thou may'st be 
found 
Above, beneath, within us and around; 
Why from the many liest thou all con- 
cealed ? 
YThj to the favored few alone revealed ? 
Methinks I hear thy gentle voice repl}^, 
'Tis these alone that search with single eye : 
The many, or with pride or passion blind. 
But seem to seek, and therefore may not 

find. 
The schoolman, learned, mystical, acute; 



132 MISCELLANEO US PIECES. 

The pedant, vain, conceited, and astute ; 
The skeptic, ever on suspicion bent, 
To evidence too weak to yield assent; 
The caviller, who each argument gainsays. 
Of tact or wit ambitious of the praise ; 
The reckless, who, if Truth or stand or fall, 
Alike unheeding, never think at all; 
Such, self-deluded, I forsake to cheer 
The, childlike spirit, humble yet sincere. 

Celestial Goodness ! may we speak thy 
name, 

iNor feel each cheek consume with burn- 
ing shame ? 

We've banished thee! Yet deign 'st thou 
to return. 

With them to linger who unheed or spurn ? 

Ah ! how unlike this sombre world of 
crime, 

Of violence, and wrath, to that fair clime. 

Thy native seat, where myriad hai'ps are 
strung 

To hymn thy praise, and dulcet strains 
are sung ! 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 133 

Earth's hapless region, grating discords fill ; 
Dark malice roams unchained, intent on ill. 
And leering envy lurks in many a breast. 
And reign insatiate lusts that know no rest : 
i^ow calumny lets fly the envenomed shaft ; 
Now murder grimly pours the noxious 

draught ; 
Or strength gives weakness to rewardless 

toil ; 
Or lawless rapine revels in its spoil; 
War fiercely waves the desolating brand, 
And scatters ruin o'er a smiling land ; 
And peaceful where the towering city 

stood. 
Leaves ^smouldering ruins reeking human 

blood. 

Yet Goodness hath not bid the earth 

farewell. 
Come with me to yon lowly cot, where 

dwell 
Want's wretched children. Pale disease 

is there : 
The ghastly cheek and wasted limbs 

declare 



1 34 MIS CELL A NEO US PIECES . 

Its mortal ravages : the fevered head 
Throbs restless on the hard and cheerless 

bed: 
It is a widow pines ; doomed to behold 
Victims of hunger, nakedness and cold, 
Her lonely babes ; and many a bitter tear 
Weeps for them fatherless — no friend is 

near ! 
But stay. Like some kind ministering 

angel sent, 
A gentle stranger comes, to soothe intent 
The sufferer's anguish, and to bring relief 
To instant woes ; while for the soul's deep 

grief, 
She offers balm eternal love hath given, 
And points the dying eye to God and 

Heaven ! 

Come listen to the pining prisoner's 
moan: 
'Mid the deep dungeon's gloom, despond- 
ing, lone, 
He lies immured, remote from cheerful day, 
To noxious air and foul disease a prey. 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 135 

^"0 mother's love — no tender sister's 

smile — 
'Eo wife's caress — ^the dreary hours beguile ; 
Too blest might end his anguish with 

his breath, 
Impatient chides he the slow pace of Death. 

Hark ! swings the massy door with 

grating sound ! 
'Tis but the warder treads his daily round : 
No ! there are tones of kindness : how 

they roll 
Like weaves of blessedness o'er that crushed 

soul, 
Long — long resigned to desolate despair ! 
Some Howard, breathing goodness enters 

there. 

Where Gunga wanders to the distant 

main, 
Embanked by spicy grove and blooming 

plain, 
Come sit thee down awhile. The sultiy day 
Is o'er ; and gorgeous twilight fades aw^ay 
In the far west; cool down the rippling 

stream 



136 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

The perfumed breezes sweep, while every 

beam 
The moon lets fall from the transparent sky 
To greet the wave, reflected meets the eye. 
And all is silent, save the measured dash 
Of yonder oars, that in the soft light flash. 
How beautiful ! But hark ! that piercing 

cry, 
That tells some tortured heart's deep 

agony ! 
See — 'tis a mother ! and her arm hath 

prest 
Her cherub infant closely to her breast I 
Ah ! 'tis her last embrace, or e'er she 

throws, 
And o'er the innocent the waters close ! 
Stay, frantic mother ! nor unclasp thine 

arm ! 
Lay not thine hand upon thy babe for harm ! 
A voice as if from heaven, ere yet too late. 
Prevents the sacrifice — arrests the fate. 
Yes ! there is one shall bid that mother 

care. 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 137 

Witli nature's yearning, for the babe she 
bare ; 

From home self-banished, and from kin- 
dred dear. 
He came to light her soul, to calm her fear ; 
And so he may but lift her thoughts on high, 

Consents 'neath burning suns to toil and 
die! 

If finite Goodness move thee to admire, 

Thy soul shall to the perfect next aspire : 

Thirst for the Infinite, resigned no more 

To dwell with sin and hate, and upwards 

soar : 

Through purer regions, worlds serenely 

bright, 
And ranks of spotless beings, urge its 

fiight; 
And past all things create, shall last ascend 
To God Supreme, in Him the quest to end. 

O come the better day, when every gale 
That sweeps from heaving hill or sunny 
vale. 



138 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

Shall. sweetly breathe of purity and peace ! 
When passion's rage and party strife shall 

cease : 
When Learning, from her venerated halls, 
Shall send forth sons whom no fierce 

summons calls 
To noisy conflict, that lays waste the mind, 
Kor leaves one noble sympathy behind; 
When like the surges spent upon the shore. 
The waves of tumult shall forget to roar : 
Society grow calm; and men begin, 
Withdrawn from outward life, to live 

within. 
That life earth's every joy shall twice 

endear ; 
Give nature language, and the soul an ear ; 
Make reason utter truth, the soul approve. 
And pure affections the pure spirit move ! 

Ah ! who would quench the nobler 
spirit's fire 
In sensual life — the life of low desire? 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 139 

Who spurn the holy hirthright nature 

gave, 
To be ambition's fool, and pleasure's slave ? 
Let such, inglorious and perversely blind, 
Grasp meaner things, and madly starve 

the mind ; 
Ignoble let them live, and nameless die. 
And ' Infamy' be written where they lie ! 

But ye, whom loftier purposes impel 
To choose the richer meed of living well : 
Who feel the spirit's heaven enkindled 

flame 
Mount upward to the source from whence 

it came ; 
And nerve your fervent souls for worthier 

strife. 

Instinct with inward energy and life : 
Ye gaze, alternate filled with hopes and 

fears, 
Adown the vista of approaching years, 
As conscious many a storm shall fierce 

assail. 
And trembling, lest or strength or cour- 
age fail ; 



140 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 



That ye may calm abide, wlien billows roll, 
Commune with God — with Nature — and 

the Soul: 
Nurture the Spirit with a Spirit's food ; 
Oh! love the Beautiful — the True — 

the Good ! 




>^^^^^^_^^ %-, S^ 5v .^„ ^-, J^.^ S>_^ ?i>^ c^_ 



II. 

THE MONKS OF CHESTEK. 

I felt as I wound my way along the echoing passages, 
a solemn awe, and a vague and indescribable sympathy 
with the long forgotten past. My imagination restored 
the old Monks to life. — Author^s Sketches. 

Where are they then? those hooded 
men, 

Whose footfalls now no more, 
Yon arches echo hack again 

That echoed oft of 3^ore ? 

Here, in the olden time, they strolled 

Along the well-worn aisle. 
And swelled the solemn chant, that rolled 

Through all the massy pile ! 

The reverend Ahhot trim and sleek. 
With well feigned look demure, 

The burly friar whose aspect meek 
Expressed devotion pure — 



142 MISCELLANEO US PIECES. 

Here dwelt in yonder cloisters grim ; 

And oft were seen to glide 
Tlirougli those old winding galleries dim, 

Like ghosts at eventide. 

Yon vaults well filled with rosy wine, 

The larder with good cheer, 
Well pleased they could the icorld resign^ 

To tell their Aves here ! 

When round that stern old tower the storm 

Howled dismally aud wild, 
In yon refectory bright and warm, 

The well spread banquet smiled. 

Round went the goblet, and each quaff 
Warmed each glad heart the more ; 

Round went the song — the jovial laugh 
Burst forth in loud uproar! 

]N^or died away — till from above, 
With measured solemn peal. 

The midnight hour was told, — their love, 
And self-denying zeal! 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 



143 



Oh where are these good Fathers now ? 

The crumblmg walls ask — Where? 
O'er those sepulchral pavements bow 

And ask, — They slumber there ! 




III. 

CLOUDS. 

W E looked when wintry winds sliould 

sweep, 
For bright bkie skies and clear keen air, 
That should all life in motion keep. 
Make glad the soul to its lowf st deep ; 
Should bid all faces a lustie wear, 
Give nerve to climb the slippery steep. 
Or over the smooth ice firm and strong, 
"With glee and shouting to course along. 

But dull gray clouds for days have spread 
O'er the wide arching heaven ; and earth 
Hath lost its smile, its glow hath fled, 
As if no sun were high o'er head ; 
And hearts are heavy, and joy and mirth 
Are half suppressed, or wholly dead : 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 145 

Life hath put on a sombre hue, 

And eyes look drooping and words are few. 

So nicely are our spirits strung 
Responsive to each sound or sight; 
The plaintive wail by the wild wind sung, 
The leaden look of the sky o'erhung 
With vapors that darken the day's pure 

light, 
Bring sadness, like cypress shadows flung 
Darkly athwart our path, till slow 
And solemn the tread, as we come and go. 

Break forth, bright ever shining sun ! 
These brooding earth-born mists dispel ; 
In the blue serene thy circuit run. 
Pouring thy splendor till day is done — 
Till with glad thoughts our bosoms swell, 
And all life seems as if fresh begun : 
Full of- vigor and hope and power. 
Crowding with deeds each joyous hour. 

Oh for that fairer clime where flow 
Eternal days of health and gladness! 



146 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 



Where never a howling wind shall blow, 
JSTor cloud the gloom of its shadows throw, 
To tinge the immortal life with sadness; 
Ko dreary moments that life shall know, 
For while the unending cycles fill, 
The UNVEILED THRONE shall be cloudless 
still ! 




^It?lfe?^?lfe?^' 




IV. 
THE SOXa OF THE SEVEN. 

Auld Lamj Syne. 

These stanzas owe their origin to a delightful tour to 
the White Mountain region, several years since, by 
"the seven" in their own c;irriages. After wandering 
for several days together among the glorious scenery, 
they ended with an Oration by one of the company and 
the Song of the Seven, by another, at the hotel of the 
pretty vilbige of Os.sipee. 

VV E Seven kind souls, by friendly chance, 

Together hold our way : 
All Avith one impulse we advance. 

Or with one will we stay. 

Far — far away each well-loved home, 

Our absence may regret; 
But since awhile we needs must roam. 

We joy that we are met. 



148 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

These gliding days have seen us climb 

The mountain's lofty side, 
And from the top, all grey with time. 

Gain prospects rich and wide. 

The valle}^ sweet, the wandering stream, 
Green woods and arching skies. 

Have seemed like some bright, lovely dream 
To our enraptured eyes. 

The winding ride o'er plain and hill, 

With everchanging scene. 
The headlong brook, the gentle rill. 

Calm lakes green slopes between : 

The basin in the solid rock. 

Where crj^stal waters lie ; 
The deep wide dell by some rude shock 

Left frownins: dark and his^h : 

Where, when o'er all the moon-beams sleep, 
And silence reigns profound, 

Fairies ma}^ bathe, and vigils keep, 
And liffhtlv trip it round : 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 149 

Oft coming the rough way to smooth, 

The cup of balmy Tea ; ^ 
And oft our wearmess to soothe, 

The merry laugh and glee : 

The morning when, each day, begin 
Fresh joys and fresh desire ; 

The social evening at the Inn, 
Where climbs some village spire : 

The peaceful hour of prayer, the day 

Of holy Sabbath rest, 
When bidding earth's best joys away, 

We worshipped and were blest: 

All these our memories shall keep. 
While years shall wing their flight. 

As gems in fountains clear and deep, 
Lie sparkling pure and bright. 



1 A beverage of which one of the seven was particu- 
larly fond, and which at every hotel he gave particular 
directions to have made utrong ! 



150 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

All lovely forms, and shapes sublime, 

Shall float before us long; 
Shall tempt aspiring thought to climb, 

Or wake the breathing song. 

When scattered far, and toil and care 
Shall cloud the troubled brow ; 

Fresh smiles, the thought shall kindle there 
Of pleasures tasted now. 

"When wanderings cease with us — The 
Seven, 
Life's weary way all trod — 
May friendship's chain grow bright in 
heaven 
Around the throne of God! 



V. 
THE VOICE OF FREEDOM. 

The Nebraska Bill, 1854. 

-Lis Freedom's voice, the joyous tone 

Swells loud and far o'er sea and main : 
The tyrant, on his tottering throne, 

Shall strive to hush that shout in vnin : 
Man, long oppressed, awakes, and stands 
With soul erect, and stalwart hands. 

Breaks the bright morn, in days of yore 
By holy seers so fondly sung. 

When crushed by wrong to earth no more. 
The chains shall from his arms be flung ; 

When all that feel oppression's rod. 

Shall tread the earth — the freed of God. 



Once waked and fired, the God-like soul 
Sleeps not again ; no force can stay 



152 MISCELLANEOUS PIECLi.. 

The glancing thought that spurns control ; 

Truths on it flash, as lightnings play, 
While clouds and darkness thick surround 
And thunders shake the solid ground. 

From Tiber's banks, from Arno fair: 
From many an Alpine clift' and glen ; 

From Rhone and Rhine ; from Danube 
where 
The Magyar waits to strike again : 

Come murmurs which the day fortell, 

When sounds the last oppressor's knell ! 

E'en the stern Turk has caught the word. 
And Mejid swears in Freedom's name ; 

For Freedom flashes Omar's sword, 
And Schamyll burns with Freedom's 
flame ; 

O'er Asia's plains her echoes sweep, 

And China breaks her ancient sleep. 

My native land ! my native land ! 

Art thou not Freedom's chosen home ? 
Her place of rest, where many a band 

Of sorrowing exiles cease to roam? 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 153 

Joy — joy to see the nations wake 
To lofty deeds for Freedom's sake ! 

Ah! — joy thou shouldst ; but burning 
shame 

Mounts to the cheek, to think that thou. 
Mother of heroes who o'ercame 

In Freedom's holy cause, shouldst now 
Permit the bondman's groans to rise 
And cry against thee to the skies ! 

Shade of Virginia's mighty son! 

Disturbed it not thy peaceful sleep — 
That deed of wrong, ignobly done, 

A faultless woman doomed to weep ? 
Woman — the generous, noble, kind, 
Virginia, thou hast stooped to bind!^ 

To bind for tender pity shown 

To captives who thy bondage bear: 
For Christ-like love, that should have 
sown 

' A respectable lady was just before imprisoned in 
Virorinia for teacliiDo; some colored children to read. 



154 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

The seeds of truth bedewed by prayer, 
In saddened hearts by thee consigned 
To shades that dim the immortal mind ! 

Land of my birth ! shall virtue be 
III thee a prisoner sent to dwell, 

Oppression's martyr — while I see 
False, recreant statesmen. Freedom sell? 

The world's deep scorn the man must 
brave 

Who gives ISTebraska to the slave ! 




. : c_;^^^ €y\Zi <Ly^Zl' O^^^oT^cv 



-/-i. " J^ -J. 








NATURE. 

J. WAS morn — a beautiful morn of May ; 

I sought to refresli an exhausted mind ; 

And I led from the stable my faithful bay, 

And toward the deep forest I took my way, 

Leaving men and their haunts behind. 

My path was lonely and rude ; it wound 
A devious way over hill and through 
glen ; 
Of the tree-felling axe there was heard no 

sound, 
But the grandeur of nature unmarred I 
found, 
As if Eden had bloomed again. 



156 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

I pause and listen ! and hark the sigh 
Of the soft wind stealing among the 
trees ; 
And see ! the pine waves 'raid the clear 

blue sky, 
And the fir as it lifts its proud head on 
high, 
Just nods to the passing breeze. 

There a mountain stream down a deep 
ravine 
Leaps babbling by like a child at play — 
O'erb ending the old moss oak is seen, 
Like age over youth — as the rocks 
between. 
It rushes with foam and spray. 

From the wanton school-boy's eye remote. 
The birds here nurture their unfledged 
young ; 
And the Eobin, the Thrasher, the Blue 

Jay's note. 
Like a chorus of angels seems to float 
The wild forest boughs among. 



3IISCELLANE0US PIECES. 157 

The squirrel peeps from his snug retreat, 
lu the hollow trunk of an aged tree, 

And along the bough trips with his fairy 
feet, 

And frisks his tail as he takes his seat, 
As if to contemplate me ! 

Where yonder cliiF lifts its bald blue head, 

On a leafless branch sits an eagle proud; 

Scared at the sound of the horse's tread, 

His broad brown pinions are slowly spread. 

And he soars to the floating cloud. 

nature I how pure, how majestic thou ! 

I joy to behold thee thus lonely and wild ; 
And whene'er I gaze on thy beauty as now, 
To the Fountain of Beauty my soul would 
bow, — 

And love like a dutiful child.^ 



1 Tliis piece was written earlier tlian the ' Spirit's Life ;' 
and three or four lines were transferred from it to that 



mmmmw 

) Go Go OD Gd OD GD UO L^ Go Go Gd Ud Oj LO Co 



VII. 
PRESIPEXT LINCOLN'S PE0CLA3IATI0N. 

Let my people go ! 

J. IS done — 'tis done ! tlie word is spoken ; 

Oppression's final hour is nigh ; 
The spell dissolves ; the charm is hroken ; 
Freedom's glad shout shall rend the sky ! 

On the great dial-plate of ages, 

The light advanced, no more recedes ; 

On and yet on, the historic pages 
Reveal God's march to him that reads ! 

His word of ancient promise keeping, 

That wrong at last shall yield to right, 
He comes — no more His justice sleep 
ing — 
For judgment comes, and clothed with 
mio:ht ! 



MISCELLANEO US PIECES. 159 

His ear hath heard the bondman's groanmg: 
His hand, of wrongs the score hath kept ; 

His eye hath marked when mothers 
. moaning 
Like Rachel, for their children wept. 

As through the Land of J^ile resounding, 
His voice rang out — Lei Israel go ! 

So rings it now, clear, loud, confounding. 
To ears that well the mandate know. 

Like some swift, cleaving blow^, 'tis falling 
On proud rebellion's vaunting crest; 

The loyal and the brave 'tis calling 
To stand for freedom, breast to breast. 

ye w^ho long in hopeless sorrow, 
Have toiled, and wept, and seen no 
dawn. 

There breaks, at length, a glad to-morrow ; 
Wake I wake ! and hail the joyous morn. 

'Tis freedom's day! Its splendor glancing 
From hill to vale shall flood the land ; 



160 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

'Tis freedom's sun to noon advancing: 
Chains burst — they drop from every 
hand ! 

Oh ! not in vain that blood is flowing 
That stains yon fields of gory strife ; 

With loftier hopes and wishes glowing, 
Millions are born to nobler life. 

With freedom's flame glad hearts are 
burning ; 

They throb with joy before unknown ; 
To visions bright glad eyes are turning, 

Gleams of a future all their own. 

God haste it ! Holy souls are praying. 
Come freedom's hour with swiftest 
speed ! 

God haste it ! long — ah ! long delaying, 
Now — now — our hosts to victory lead ! 



VII [. 



MORNING WATCHES 

By the Seaside, Little Compton, R. I. 

J. IS not yet dawn; from troubled sleep 
And strange bewildering dreams I rise; 
Here at the casement will I keep 
Still vigils with the sea and skies: 
I know not why, a tender sadness 
Broods o'er my spirit at this hour; 
Perchance the dawn may bring me 

gladness, 
And give my soul fresh hope and power. 

Yon ocean, stretching far away, 
Blends in the darkness with the sky, 
Hither its low, dull murmurs stray, 
E'ow hoarsely swell, now sink and die : 
That restless sea is heavhig ever, 
Kissed by the breeze or tempest tost, 



162 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

Type of the soul that resteth never, 
By pleasure stirred, .by sorrow crossed. 

But see — o'er yonder deep afar, 
Wreathed in soft mist, yet purely bright, 
Ascends the glorious morning star, 
And sheds serene her placid light : 
Sweet pledge of day ! — thy radiance 

glowing 
O'er the dim ocean's heaving breast. 
Like some kind influence thro' me flowing. 
Brings to my spirit peace and rest. 

Oh, ever when 'mid trouble's night, 
"With drooping hope and saddened heart, 
I wait and watch for cheering light, 
And falls the tear unwont to start; 
May some fair messenger of heaven. 
All bright and beautiful as thou. 
Be to my anxious vision given, 
And all my griefs be healed as now. 



IX. 

TO MY SISTER 

ON HER WEDDING DAY. 

XHE liour is come, my sister, 

When thou givest thy plighted hand. 
And the nuptial throng are gathered, 

A youthful, brilliant band: 
Each heart is filled with gladness. 

As the bridal wreath they twine, 
And 'twere wrong that a shade of sadness, 

Should cloud that brow of thine. 

True thou leavest, now, my sister, 
Youth's bright and careless ring. 

And graver thoughts await thee, 
And cares in thy pathway spring; 

Yet let not a tear-drop falling, 
O'ercast thy smiles to-day, 



164 MISCELLANEO US PIECES. 

'Tis the voice of love that's calhug, 
From the old dear scenes away. 

The heart thou hast loved, my sister, 

The heart thou hast loved is warm ; 
Douht not thou wilt find it faithful, 

True alike amid calm and storm : 
In the calm it will tenderly cherish, 

In the storm it will firmly defend. 
And though other trusts ma}^ perish. 

This — this shall not fail, till life end. 

I have loved thee well, my sister, 

I have watched thee many a year ; 
Can I see thee from me passing 

And stay the uprising tear? 
Yes — go — long nurtured flower. 

Yes — go — ^nd I'll not repine; 
Though plucked from my own dear bower, 

I yield thee — thy joy is mine. 

Heaven send thee its blessing, dear sister. 
The light of God's love be o'erthrown. 

The angels be ever around thee. 
Thy heart be as blest as my own : 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 



165 



Then when death which earth's ties must 
dissever, 

Shall bear thee o'er the dark tide, 
Go wander and love forever, 

The calm waters of heaven beside. 







X. 

NELLY. 

J. KNEW a gentle maiden, 
Her cheek was pale, but fair; 

Her eye was blue, of the softest line, 
And a golden brown her hair. 

She used to cross the meadow. 

Skip nimbly o'er the stile : 
Her motion light as the swallow's flight, 

Like a sunbeam's play her smile. 

As o'er the grassy common. 
To school she blithely went, 

In grace, she seemed like a fairy dreamed, 
Like an angel in content. 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 167 

With every Sabbath's dawning. 

Up to the house of prayer 
The maiden came, — for she loved the 
name 

Of the Savior worshipped there. 

She went and came so often, 

That each returning morn, 
My eye would stray down the winding 
way. 

Till she had come and gone. 

One day — the sun shone brightly, — 
I watched, but watched in vain : 

With a weary eye saw the day go by, 
For she came not o'er the plain. 

!N'o more I saw her coming 

With light, elastic bound ; 
The frost of death — it had chilled her 
breath. 

And she slept beneath the ground. 



16>8 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

Oh ! there was bitter anguish, 
And there were floods of grief; 

A home made sad, that before was glad, 
In that life so bright and brief. 

But goodness liveth ever, 

It cannot, cannot die: 
When lost to earth, by a holy birth 

It is born to a life on high. 

And still sweet Nelly liveth 

Beyond the stars of night ; 
"Where all are fair, she is shining there, 

Herself a star of light ! 




XI. 

TO MY WIFE, 

Jan. 1st, 1864. 

1 VE sought tlie city o'er to find 
Dearest ! a fitting gift for thee ; 

In vain ! There's nothing to my mind, 
Of all the tasteful things I see. 

'Tis not that works of taste and art, 
Books, pictures, jewels, I despise ; 

These have their uses, and impart 
Some pleasure, even to the wise. 

But these are trifles to my thought. 
When this full heart would fondly prove. 

What price by years it hath been taught 
To set on thy pure, faithful love. 



ITO MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

Each gift most beautiful and rare, 
Seems all unequal to express 

The fervent gratitude I bear, 
For all thy life-long tenderness! 

To every year that speeds its flight, 
Each must 'tis said some grace resign ; 

But flying years, to my pleased sight. 
Add grace to every charm of thine. 

Thy riper judgment, richer mind, 
Enlarged experience, firmer will. 

Leave no regrets for days behind. 
But bless and satisfy me still. 

Time the arch-robber hath no power 
To steal thy solid worth away ; 

He cannot touch thy peerless dower 
Of virtues that know not decay. 

My heart's best oflfering, dearest, take ; 

Its changeless love, its steady trust ; 
'Tis thine till earth's last tie shall break ; 

And I shall sleep in silent dust. 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 



171 



Aje, where immortal life shall glow, 
Where endless years serenely glide, 
Firm is my faith that I shall know 
vThee as my fair, immortal bride ! 




OO UD UO u5 U3 CO Ot) GD OO C6 Ca3 OC \o OO u5 U3 



XII. 
THE MOUNTAIN MAID. 

While riding among the Alps, you continually 
encounter flocks of sheep and herds of cattle wherever 
there are grassy sj)ots, under the care of young women, 
who stand or sit all day beside them, occupying them- 
selves, generally, with braiding straw. There is some- 
thing highly picturesque in the appearance of these 
herds with their fair attendants, as you find them in 
these mountain solitudes. — Auihor^s Sketches. 

feHE sits upon the mountain side, 

The herd is grazing by; 
At hand soft mnrmnring waters glide, 

Around cool shadows lie. 

Beside her on the grass are laid 

The well adjusted straws, 
With which to weave the tasteful braid, 

That o'er her knee she draws. 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 173 

Upon her nut-brown cheek there glows 

Of health the blushing hue ; 
Her eyes, like dew-drops on the rose, 

^Lre pearly, soft and blue. 

All blithe and happy is her air, 
Throughout the live-long day ; 

As to her breast corroding care 
Hath never found its way. 

And yet she bears, full well I know, 

A tender human heart, 
Where deep and warm affections glow, 

And wishes fondly start. 

Perhaps adown in yonder glen, 

A mother's grateful smile, 
As with each eve she comes again. 

Awaits her all the while. 

And well the thought of such delight. 

May cheer the lonely child. 
As pass the hours their lingering flight, 

'Mid solitude and wild. 



174 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

Perchance as thus alone she sits, 

Intent her task to ply, 
A dream of some fond lover flits. 

Before her inward eye. 

And fancy paints her happy lot. 
In days when she shall be 

The matron of a mountain cot, 
With children round her knee. 

Perchance she hath a lofty soul. 

The gifts of genius rare, 
Reads on each crag a written scroll, 

Hears voices in the air. 

But what she hath of hopes or fears, 

It is not mine to know; 
Yet will I wish, fair maid, thy years 

All peacefully may flow. 

That time may thy best hopes fulfil. 

And all thy visions bright 
Be changed to truth; — yet upward still 

Still upward — be thy flight I 



XIII. 



THE BIRTHDAY. 



May 2nd, 1834. 

X 0-DAY just eight and twenty years, 
A clay of mingled hopes and fears, 
Rememhered well, though now afar, 
E-ose on the world an unknown star. 
^ Unknown, yet not unlooked for, carne 
The trembling thing without a name ! 
Emerging from the eternal deep. 
Where unthought mysteries ever sleep. 
It rose in beauty on our sight, 
A ray of the celestial light. 
Tears greeted it, but not of sadness, 
Tears warm with love and bright with 
gladness ; 



176 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

And grateful thanks to heaven were sent 
For this fair gift so kindly lent, 
On life's dim shadowy way to smile, 
And its oft weary hours beguile. 

That glimmering star as years have flown, 

Has larger waxed and brighter grown ; 

And loving hearts have quicker beat, 

And eyes have glowed its glance to meet. 

IN'ow clear, full-orbed, ascended high, 

It fixes many a gazing eye ; 

And kindly influence lets fall 

O'er a wide sphere to gladden all. 

A guiding star — it sheds its beams; 

A star of comfort now it seems ; 

A star elect, set 'mid the band 

The Highest holds in his right hand. 

Purer and purer may it glow ! 

Wide and more wide its splendor throw ! 

When — past its latest natal day — 

Its light for earth shall fade away, 

More fair and glorious let it rise, 

To blaze on the eternal skies ! 



XIV. 
TO CLARA. 

JjADY of gentle mien and eye, 
We every hour have missed thee, 

Since when we gave the last good-bye, 
And, at the parting, kissed thee ! 

The stars above grow dim at dawn, 
Are lost in day's full beaming; 

But thou, our star, on that last morn. 
Didst shine with brighter gleaming. 

Thy winning ways and witching smile. 
Seemed all enhanced in losing, 

And sweeter grew each tone the while ; 
Ah — -'twas not of our choosing — 



178 MISCELLANEO US PIECES. 

But thou, wouldst leave us ! Yet perchance 
Kind hearts for thee were pining, 

Which saw their sun of joy advance, 
As we saw ours declining ! 

I saw thee last upon the deck, 
A manly hand warm grasping ; 

Who — who in thought or wish would 
check 
The fervor of that clasping ! 

Ah ! happy all thy future years, 
Where'er thy steps are bending, 

So thou may'st have, thro' toils and tears, 
That manly form attending! 

Nay do not blush, some smiling cot 
Awaits thy charms to grace it 

Heaven send thee earth's divinest lot, 
Till Heaven itself replace it! 






SONNETS. 



XV. 
THE RIDE. 

Williamstown, Mass. 
I. 

W E rode, in genial mood, a friendly band, 
Where climbed a winding path o'er many 

a steep, 
And caught, from height to height, on 

either hand, 
Visions of beauty in the valleys deep ; 
There gentle Hoosic holds his peaceful 

way. 
With meadow banks of green, and trees 

o'erhung; 
There are sweet pastures where the blithe 

lambs play 



ISO MISCELLANEOUS PIECES 

And sober herds repose; fields wnere is 

sung 
The reaper's troll as o'er his arm is flung 
The ripened grain that for the sheaf he 

binds : 
There gleams the village spire, and deep 

among 
Thick elms and maples hid, the eye yet 

finds 
The classic halls whence, with each year, 

are sent 
Men of high soul on noble ends intent. 

II. 

There lift the mountains their majestic 

forms. 
Wearing their forest robes, a rich attire. 
Unharmed by wasting time, or raging 

storms. 
Serene when thunders on their brows ex- 
pire. 
So blend the lovely and the grand around. 
Fix the pleased eye and charm the ad- 
miring soul; 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 181 

Joy warms each heart, pure, tranquil and 

profound ; 
O'er each, blest impulses delicious roll ; 
We snatched each view, drank in each 

rural sound ; 
The brook's dull murmur and the wind's 

soft sigh ; 
And while 'mid scenes of beauty on we 

wound. 
Each troubled thought seemed in the heart 

to die ; 
Peace filled each breast, and hope that 

friendship's chain 
Might firmly bind till perfect love should 

reign. 




XVI. 

PALMER'S INDIAN MAID. 

I. 

Woi^DROUS Enchanter ! at tliat touch 

of thine, 
The cold dead marble warms, and lives, 

and wakes; 
The shape thy thought would give, it plas- 
tic takes, 
Eises and stands in gj^mmetry divine: 
That Indian Maid seems but to wait thy call, 
To break the spell of silence, and in speech, 
With those just parting lips our souls to 

teach 
Truths pure as crystal drops on flowers 
let fall. 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 183 

For not alone the outline soft as air, 
With each material grace that charms the 

sight, 
Thou fashionest, but settest also there 
A spiritual beauty, calm, etherial, bright ; 
As if within there glowed an angel soul 
Whose living light serene suflused the 

whole ! 

II. 

Creator of the Beautiful and True, 
What matchless shapes before thine in- 
ward eye 
Forever float ! what visions open lie 
Of rarest things that science never knew ! 
As in the bosom of the sleeping lake 
That no breath ruffles, of a summer morn, 
Sky, mountain, rock and tree, green slope 

and lawn, 
A treasury of beauty seem to make ; 
Even so, methinks, dwell ever in thy mind 
Types of all fairest things — an endless 
store — 



184 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 



That stay thy bidding to stand forth 

enshrined 
In visible form, thenceforth to change no 

more. 
Thy pure creations bid our souls aspire 
To know the Infinite Beauty, and admire! 




XVII. 
YAUCLUSE. 

Passing the bridge, you stand in front of a grand 
cliff rising perpendi<;ularly nearly eight hundred feet. 
You ascend by a winding path along the rapid stream 
to the base of the mountain, and there, under the 
shelving rock, you find a natural reservoir, some fifty 
feet across, and said to be on one side more than a 
hundred feet in depth. The sun never shines into it. 
The water lies perfectly tranquil, is of the deepest blue, 
and on the shallower side, you can see the pebbles go 
shelving down as far as the eye can follow them. — Au- 
thor's Sketches. 

I. 

oTERiT, solemn, grand, far up the rlark 

blue heaven. 
Thou old grey cliff, thou heav'st thine 

awful form ! 
On the wide waste of years a beacon given, 
Lonely and bare, and scarred by time and 

storm ; 



186 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

Hard at thy base, where all day shadows 

sleep, 
Spreads the wide grotto, overarching high ; 
Adown its mossy sides the cold tears weep, 
And in its lap the crystal waters lie. 
In sweet repose, as if there ventured nigh 
This still retreat, no rude disturbing power ; 
No sound to pain the ear, no sight the eye ; 
Peace was not more profound in Eden's 

bower ; 
Far down the depths the pebbly slope is 

seen, 
Then azure shades unpierced by vision 

keen. 

II. 

'Tis such a spot as poets oft have sung. 
Or fancy pictured in her wildest dream; 
A spot the which while yet the world was 

young. 
Had peopled been with Naiads, and the 

stream, 
Along whose murmuring course sweet 

odors breathe 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 187 

From beds of fragrant thyme and roses 

wild, 
Had been the baunt of Fays, tbat came 

to wreathe 
Their flowery garlands when the moon- 
beams smiled ; 
ISTow gushing forth through portals all 

unseen, 
And bubbling upward to the light of day, 
It dashes onward the rough rocks between, 
With sparkling foam, — then sweeps its 

winding way 
Down the long steep, — then its rash speed 

restrains. 
And bears fresh beauty to the blooming 

plains. 

III. 

Petrarca's Fountain! — Yes, thou bear'st 

his name ; 
A name that distant ages shall rehearse ; 
A name that soareth not alone to fame, 
Married to Laura's in immortal verse ! 



188 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

Oft came lie musing to the cooling shade, 
When scorched the summer's sun with 

noontide ray; 
At twilight thither oft his footsteps strayed, 
To while with thee the pensive hour away : 
i^ow — seated thoughtful by thy rocky side, 
A soft kind influence steals through all 

his soul ; 
Bright, airy visions now before him glide ; 
I»[ow — mark the tears of tenderness that 

roll ! 
Fixed is his gaze — but the winged soul 

is free; 
He thinks on Laura — though he looks on 

THEE !^ 



* These sonnets, moi^e than any others, perhaps, should 
have been constructed on the Petrarchian model, con- 
sidering the genius loci. But written as they were im- 
mediately under the inspiration of the visit, the author 
thought of nothing, at the time, but of giving expres- 
sion to what he felt. The older English writer?, how- 
ever, as Shakspeare for example, commonly used this 
simple construction. 



XVII L 
FAREWELL TO ROME. 

Composed in a night ride from Rome to Civita Vec- 
chia. 

I. 

Imperial city! I have dreamed of 

thee 
Through long — long years, — since when 

in early prime, 
I traced, with heart deep stirred, thy history 
Of men heroic, and of deeds sublime : 
Thy storied names, which on the scroll 

of time. 
But gather brightness with the flight of 

years ; 
Or — if all stained with tyranny and crime, 
With blood of slaughtered innocence and 

tears 
Of bitter agony — but blacker grow. 
As grows the detestation of mankind ; 



190 MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

Around thy Tiber, have availed to throw, 

And o'er thy hills, where sits decay en- 
shrined, 

A spell that warmed my soul with classic 
fire, 

And waked, to see thee, restless, keen 
desire ! 

11. 

And I have seen thee ! — And my feet have 

trod 
Among thy crumbling glories; climbed 

the height 
Of thy famed Capitol, where erst thy god. 
Great Jupiter, enthroned in awful might, 
His dwelling kept; whither old warriors 

came 
With pomp and triumph from the field 

well won. 
To bring their trophies, and to light the 

flame 
Upon his altar ; forth when day was done. 
My steps have strayed to see the moon- 
light fall 



3nSCELLANE0US PIECES. 191 

Where ivies o'er the Coliseum creep, 
And mark the shadows by the ruined wall 
Where dwelt the Csesars, dark and lonely 

sleep ! 
Henceforth 'tis memory all — the dream 

is o'er; 
Rome — fare thee well — I muse on thee 

no more ! 









li^^fe 



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XIX. 
TO TILLIE ON HEK BIRTHDAY. 

Mf.THIKKS that on this joyous natal 
morn, 

Backward, dear girl, thy gentle thought 
hath strayed. 

And 'mid the golden blushes of the dawn 

Of early childhood, thou again hast played. 

Ah ! beautiful in the dim past appears 

That early twilight when all things were 
fair ; 

When blithe birds caroled to the morn- 
ing air. 

And thou as yet didst feel no boding fears : 

Sweet memories ! As they rise thine eye 
doth wear 

A tender look, half sorrow and half joy ! 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 193 

For childhood's dreams are vanished, and 
now care, 

And sober thoughts, and noble aims em- 
ploy 

Thy earnest woman's soul ; the future 
calls ; 

On ! On ! God give thee strength till eve- 
ning falls ! 




'1 ■-••^■^^ •••^-< ^^„^ p.^ < ^fL 






XX. 

soNa. 

JlEAKS have seemed months, love, 

When passed at thy side ; 
But months seem long years, love. 

When without thee they glide ; 
Wearily breaketh now 

The bright dawning day. 
Wearily evening falls, 

And thou far away. 

What though I roam, love, 

'Mid old storied towers. 
Wander through palaces. 

Gardens and bowers? 
Or stray by sweet rivers 

Made classic in song ? 
One charm still is wanting, 

One name on my tongue. 



MISCELLANEOUS PIECES. 

Tliy smile hath cheered, love, 

Hath lighted my path, 
When dark clouds have gathered, 

Or burst in their wrath ; 
So long hath it blessed me. 

So dear hath it grown 
Without it my heart pines 

All saddened and lone. 

Speed — speed the hours, love. 

That bear me once more. 
Back to thy fond arms, 

A wanderer no more; 
Bright though the way be 

That tempts me to roam, 
I'm most of all blest, love, 

With thee and at home! 



195 





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